Devon’s first Recovery Walk kicks off at Exeter football ground

Exeter will be hosting the first event of its kind in Devon, to celebrate recovery from addiction.

Organised by the Devon Recovery Consortium, a multi-agency team involving Devon County Council and providers of drug and alcohol services, The Walk for Recovery will start at Exeter City Football Ground (St James’s Park) and culminate on the Cathedral Green, on Saturday, June 22, at 10.30am.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “As commissioners of drug and alcohol services, we want the focus of this work to be towards complete recovery, and this recovery walk is a great way to celebrate everything that is positive about this.

“Dependency on drugs or alcohol, and the associated mental and physical health and wider social problems, affects not just individuals but their whole families and the wider community; and so consequently so does recovery. We’d like to see families and communities to come together for this event, and help tackle the stigma associated with it, as well as joining in the celebrations.”

The theme of the event is ‘thinking better, feeling better, acting better’ and the walk is aimed at people in recovery, their families and their communities as well as those who help support people in recovery, to celebrate that recovery is possible and positive.

Donald Church, Project Manager from RecoveryLink and walk organiser on behalf of the Recovery Consortium, said: “Recovery Walks are based on the simple precept of raising awareness that recovery from substance abuse and mental health problems does happen.

“This event is primarily about raising that awareness and tackling the stigma attached. Recovery walks are happening all over the country as people in recovery and their supporters, family, friends come out and celebrate.”

The event will include music, speakers, stalls and refreshments on the Cathedral Green, where people can find out more about recovery and speak to professionals from a range of services that provide support for people with drug and alcohol addiction and mental health issues, and their families.

The first recovery walks started in Pennsylvania, and since then they have taken place in cities across the UK including Brighton and Liverpool. This is the first such walk to take place in Devon.

Quotes from people in recovery:

“The best bit, the most rewarding bit, is that, as the fog begins to lift, people remember how to enjoy themselves. They start to smile, make friends and find they can deal with life without a drink, and it’s not as bad as they thought!” Tony, 45

“This was my third detox and I’m pretty sure I would have ended up on the street if I had gone back to drinking, but because of the support I’ve had to stay sober, from other people in sobriety I’ve met, as a result I’ve got a stable place to live and lots to look forward to.” Jason 43

“I used drugs to disappear – now I don’t need to. Life without drugs is calmer, happier, fuller.” Karen, 35

“Sobriety gave me a life I could not have believed possible. My children are the ones who benefit more than anyone.” Julie, 42

“Life without drugs isn’t always a bed of roses. Recovery gives me the few seconds I need to put my life into perspective and see that my problems are only made worse by using drugs.” George 28

Get involved:

Twitter @devon_walk_2013

Facebook: Recovery Walk

Programme:

Exeter City Football Club, St James’ Park

10.30am Gathering at ECFC

11am Walk starts

Cathedral Green

12pm: Donald Church – Project manager Recoverylink Intro and purpose of recovery walk

12:15pm: Broken Chords – Bradninch’s very own singer songwriter Kevin Spiers, with Joe Shaw on drums and Mike Batsch on bass

12:45: Kristian Tomblin – Devon DAAT manager ‘The recovery journey in Devon’

1pm : Alistair Sinclair – Founder member and Director of the UK Recovery Federation