Patrick Rabbit, a comic-book character created by cartoonist
Phil Yeh, helps to get the anti-smoking message across to kids.

Patrick Rabbit hopes to
smoke out Joe Camel

One of the leading causes of cancer is smoking, yet kids continue to smoke in record numbers, with up to 3,000 teens a day trying the habit.

Trying to make a dent in this trend is cartoonist Phil Yeh's "Patrick Rabbit" character, whose recent comic book is both set in a Hawaii and has an anti-smoking message.

Yeh worked with Pearl City cartoonist Jon Murakami on the project. The two will be painting a portable mural for the American Lung Society 2 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at Borders Books and Music at Ward Center, and at 4 p.m. city Councilman Steve Holmes will present a Council resolution to the cartoonists commending their efforts.

Yeh founded of Cartoonists Across America in 1985 after speaking to Lanikai resident and cookie mogul Wally Amos, national spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America.

Yeh decided to tour the country for 15 years using cartoons to calls attention to serious issues affecting kids, and so far has hit 49 states, three Canadian pro-vinces and dozens of countries.

"After studying the serious rise in cigarette smoking among young people in the last few years, it became clear that cartoonists could definitely contribute something in this area," said Yeh. "The big cigarette companies have used cartoon characters like Joe Camel for years to entice kids into smoking cigarettes. It seems only logical that we use cartoon characters to point out the dangers of nicotine."

The artists will sign copies of the comic at Borders. Call 591-8995.

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By Burl Burlingame