How could a former athlete's face inspire thousands of kids not to dip into a can of snuff? At age 13, Gruen Von Behrens became addicted to smokeless tobacco; at 17 he was diagnosed with cancer. One week later, surgeons removed most of the lower half of his face.

"With a batting average of .400, my goal was to play for the Chicago Cubs," says Von Behrens. "Instead, thanks to smokeless tobacco, I've spent much of my life in hospitals and endured more than 40 surgeries and countless other treatments. Spit tobacco ruined my life and I don't want this to happen to anyone else."

While in Utah, Von Behrens is challenging youth to enter Real Noise, an annual contest that invites junior, middle and high school students and their friends to create and conduct an anti-tobacco activity in their communities. Entries are due by November 21. More information is available at www.fighttheugly.com.

Contests like Real Noise, where youth tell others about the dangers of tobacco, have helped bring Utah's youth smoking rate down to 7.4 percent--the lowest in the nation.