A group of teenagers will travel by horse-drawn carriage from Belfast to Dublin on Saturday as part of a novel health-promotion drive.
During the journey the carriages will display an anti-drugs banner signed by the Lord Mayors of Belfast and Dublin in an effort to get more youngsters to say no to drugs.
Six teenagers from the west Dublin suburb of Ballyfermot will join six counterparts from Northern Ireland on the cross-Border initiative, sponsored by the Eastern Health Board.
Along the route the young people will be addressed by a number of celebrities, including the Olympic gold medal winning boxer, Michael Carruth, on the hazards of abusing drugs.
Behind the unique venture is COLT, an organisation formed three years ago to integrate socially-marginalised, high-risk young people into constructive community activities through their enthusiasm for horses.
Mr Liam Mooney, secretary of COLT, said the horses involved are accustomed to traffic and have been working for several years around St Stephen's Green. They will be given regular breaks and used in relay fashion. "It will be very colourful, like a pony express. We want to highlight that the majority of young people are prepared to say no to the abuse of drugs," he said.
The youths will travel to Belfast on Friday for a reception with the Lord Mayor.
The carriage drive sets out from Belfast City Hall on Saturday at 6 a.m. and arrives at Dublin's Mansion House at about 9 p.m. A special reception will be held in the Mansion House on Monday to welcome the Belfast teenagers.