Walk for Hope this Saturday in Latham Park
Raising awareness for substance abuse recovery

[September 21, 2016]  LINCOLN - The public is invited to a community event, Walk for Hope, to be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016. Line-up will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Scully Park, downtown Lincoln, IL. This event is being held to promote substance abuse awareness in Logan County and to raise funds. The walk is free to the public, but funds raised through t-shirt sales will purchase Narcan, overdose reversal, kits for first responders and to assist those in need of treatment.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (https://www.recovery month.gov/home),  National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.

Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.

There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments. Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate National Recovery Month. They speak about the gains made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding about the diseases of mental and substance use disorders.

Now in its 27th year. Recovery Month highlights the achievements of individuals who have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery and honors the treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible. Recovery Month also promotes the message that recovery in all of its forms is possible and encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those in need.”

Individuals who are in recovery and their support systems are encouraged to participate in order to spread the message of hope and recovery successes. Representatives from Tazwood Center for Wellness and Gateway will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about services. Materials for services at Chestnut Health Systems and information about local recovery meetings will also be available.

The walk is being coordinated by the recovery community in Logan County. Funds raised will be directed to the Logan County Department of Public Health for Narcan kits and Logan County Love to assist those in need of treatment. Organizations supporting the event include the Lincoln/Logan County Crime Stoppers and Healthy Communities Partnership. For more information and to order a shirt, please contact Jeanette at 217-871-3208 or Jennifer at 217-671-4124.

[Angela Stoltzenburg for Jeanette Harris]