All about the Ring Thing

The name for the Silver Ring Thing Movement was first coined when members of the group pledged their pre-marital chastity by …

The name for the Silver Ring Thing Movement was first coined when members of the group pledged their pre-marital chastity by wearing a silver-coloured ring.

Following its enormous success in the US, the Christian-based group, which received $700,000 (575,421) in federal funding last year, is on its first ever tour on this side of the Atlantic and is visiting seven cities in the UK and Ireland, including Belfast and Dublin which it visited last week.

"The aim of the movement is to offer an alternative to young people, many of whom feel under enormous pressure to become sexually active," says co-ordinator of the UK and Ireland tour, Kathi Bellafiore.

"Because the programme is presented by other teenagers in an easy-to-understand and fun way, young people can relate more easily to the message and they are no longer made to feel awkward or 'uncool' about the idea of abstinence."

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Described as a "high-energy, high-tech event with lights, music, comedy and drama", the Silver Ring Thing road show is aimed at the 12 to 18 years age group.

Although the movement originated in the US and is run by Americans, Bellafiore insists the tour shouldn't be perceived as "an event where Americans are telling Ireland's young people how to live".

She adds that the idea for the UK and Ireland tour originated following a BBC documentary on the Silver Ring Thing group; after the programme was aired, the movement received numerous calls from parents in the UK and Ireland, who were interested in bringing the group to their local towns and who wanted to promote the idea of abstinence to young people in their area.

For further information, contact Kathi Bellafiore on 0044-1932 241 714.