Link for Hope Coalition invites all to Recovery Walk

6 years ago

HOULTON, Maine — September is Recovery Month and to mark the event, the Link For Hope Coalition will host its annual Recovery Walk Saturday, Sept. 15, at 9:30 a.m.

The walk will begin at the Houlton Parks and Recreation Center parking lot then go down Pleasant Street, through Market Square and onto the Gateway Bridge, where a brief ceremony will be held. Anyone may participate.

This past summer, the Aroostook Mental Health Center received a grant to open the Southern Aroostook Recovery Center (SARC) as well as a Recovery Center in Caribou.

“Studies have shown when people get treatment and receive the tools they need to live a healthy lifestyle, if they return to the environment where their addiction was supported, they relapse,” said Trudy Rairdon, co-chairman of Link for Hope in Houlton. “The goal of the SARC is to establish a healthy, safe environment for individuals in an effort to support their sobriety.”

The Link for Hope Coalition has been busy this summer holding fundraisers for the new center, since the grant does not cover furnishing the site. The coalition held a bean supper and auction in July and a Mystery Dinner Theater in August.

“We thank all of the businesses who sponsored these events and the people who attended and gave of their time, talents and finances so graciously,” Rairdon said.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) declared September as National Recovery Month to recognize those who have been struck with the disease of addiction.

“This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community,” said Becky Miller, co-chairman of Link for Hope. “When you think about it, isn’t that what we all should be doing … investing in health, home, purpose and community?”

“Because of the stigma of addiction, you might think you don’t know anyone who has walked that road,” Rairdon added. “It’s not easy for many people to disclose they have a substance use disorder. They could be your neighbor or coworker or even a family member.

“It is entirely up to each person in recovery whether or not they give up their anonymity,” she said. “The reality is that addiction affects everyone in our community, either directly or indirectly, therefore it’s everyone’s responsibility to support those in recovery. It’s an investment that will promote and enhance the health and safety of our communities.”
For more information on the Southern Aroostook Recovery Center, visit Link for Hope’s Facebook page.