Teen “phenom” Sarah Lonsert, an award-winning singer and songwriter, will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Walk Against Drugs rally and she’ll perform at the community fair that follows.
The talented teen, who has worked to overcome autism, was featured in the recently released film “Secretariat” and others and received album of the year at the 2010 Los Angeles Music Awards. Last year, she was named “Singer/Songwriter” at that same music awards show and is a recent grand prize winner in the USA Song writing Competition, an international competition of more than 20,000 entries.
The 22nd Annual Walk Against Drugs event, which highlights National Red Ribbon Week, begins at 8 a.m. with a rally at Mission Viejo High School Stadium, 25025 Chrisanta Drive. Sarah will kick off the day by trying to inspire the thousands expected to take part in the rally. She is an entertainer who has embraced her high-functioning Autism (Aspergher’s).
“I have learned to work with my limitations and turn them into advantages where I can,” Sarah said. “It allows me to create songs, write books and poems and draw. I aspire to become a Broadway actor and singer. I am working with Deborah Gibson, Billy Purnell, and Jonathan George on my songwriting singing and pop performance.”
After the rally, the crowd will then walk down La Paz Road, through the Oso Creek Trail. The one-mile walk will be immediately followed by a community fair and Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.
The fair along the Village Green will feature music, food, game booths, crafts, inflatables along with Orange County Sheriff’s Department displays. Sarah will perform at the fair, which will also include karate routines by Mission Viejo’s Got Talent Winner PKSA Elite Demo team and an appearance by Olympian swimmer Chloe Sutton.
The Expo, led by Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, will feature emergency preparedness booths with informative, interactive displays to educate residents how to adequately prepare for a large-scale disaster and showcase the resources available during disaster responses.
Residents should be aware of road closures associated with the Walk Against Drugs event. The westbound lanes of La Paz Road from Veteran’s Way to Chrisanta Drive will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m. and the intersection of La Paz Road and Chrisanta Drive will be closed for roughly 15 minutes for walkers between 8:40 a.m. and 9:05 a.m.
A free shuttle bus at Newhart Middle School, 25001 Veterans Way, will take visitors to and from Mission Viejo High School. The shuttle runs from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.
For more information, visit the City’s website at www.cityofmissionviejo.org.
