by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 24/98) - Eight years ago, Ed and Linda Smith lost their 18-year-old daughter Cheri Lynn after she got caught up in a life of prostitution and drugs on the streets in B.C.

Three months after she was reported missing, her body was discovered in a ditch along a rural road near Victoria.

"Last year there were a bunch of stories run in the Yellowknifer about girls getting caught up in prostitution to support drug habits and stuff" said Al Hoeft, spokesperson for the Yellowknife Ministerial Association. "As a community we all kind of (gasped) and said this is not the way it should be and said what are we going to do about it."

While on holidays last summer in Regina, Sask., Hoeft tracked down the Smiths and invited them to Yellowknife to speak this weekend.

"They are people who bring a positive message and a hopeful message to an ugly situation," said Hoeft.

The Smith's presentation, Doorway to the Street, is broken up into a number of topics. They will begin with Cheri's story, followed by a talk on how teenagers end up in prostitution, drug running, pimping and violent crime. The discussion will wrap up with the focus on solutions.

"From what I've heard about the program is that it's really real, very up front and deals with matters head on. I think that's what we need to hear."

The Smiths will speak to students at St. Pat's and Sir John next Monday and Tuesday. They will be targeting students in Grades 7 to 10 to wake them up to the dangers of the streets and what to watch out for.

On Monday night at 7:30 p.m. the Ministerial Association is hosting a Parent's Evening with the Smiths at the Salvation Army. Anyone can attend.