Walk for Recovery Awareness helps shine a light on recovery, ending stigma

As National Recovery Month comes to an end, dozens of people in recovery, people who support friends and family in recovery, and other members of the community showed up for ‘A Walk for Recovery’ this past Saturday.

Coordinated by Bryan Fields, and sponsored by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and True North Recovery, people arrived by the van full from different recovery centers including True North, Vita Nova and, Alaska Alcohol Recovery Services, to come together to walk. The walk began at the Wasilla Walgreens, and people made their way to Wonderland Park along the Parks Highway, carrying signs celebrating recovery, hope, and a few in memorial of those lost to overdose.

Waves, cheers, and honking horns of encouragement and support of their efforts could be seen and heard all along the walking route and throughout the day, people cheering each other on.

Bryan Fields coordinated the walk and fellowship after seeing a similar event in Ketchikan last year during their “Stomp the Stigma” Recovery March and Rally.

“I thought ‘how cool would that be to do something like that here.’ When I first brought it up, people thought I was joking, so I just started making calls and hoping people would show up, and here we are,” he said, looking upon the crowd that showed up.

For Fields, recovery is personal. He’s been in recovery himself for a little over 4 years.

“Anything we can do to shine a light, that there is hope and help. There are a lot of people that are afraid. I know I was afraid, and I thank God for recovery.”

The 2.5-mile walk was intended to help erase the stigma attached to substance use disorder and recovery, and show support to people in various stages of recovery as some participants are on in the early days and weeks of their recovery.

One such attendee was Christopher Petruska from Anchorage, who has been in recovery for 6 months. He participated in the walk and was happy to be involved in the event.

“It’s good to see this, and all the people here, you know, we’re not alone,” he said as he proudly carried a sign, “Walk for Recovery.”

Another attendee, Lorraine Valli, was excited to participate, even making the only sign that lit up.

“It’s just amazing, look at us all,” Valli said. She hadn’t heard of the walk until she saw a flyer during a group meeting and is proud to support recovery.

“I know I’ve struggled with it, so it’s good to see this turnout,” she said before the walk got underway.

After the walk, participants gathered at Wonderland Park for pizza, refreshments, and an opportunity to listen to a few people who told their stories of addiction and recovery. Some have been in long-term recovery, while a few were nervous, having not spoken to a large crowd before but knowing the power of their stories told to people still struggling was a vital part of ending the stigma of substance use disorder, recovery, and mental health wellness.

“I could stand up here and tell you all about being broke and hopeless, or what addiction looks like. But the fact is you’re all here on a Saturday afternoon because addiction has touched you in one way or another,” said James, who has been in recovery since 2015.

“You guys are all a miracle-a group of people like us is here together is a miracle,” he told the group gathered while encouraging them to keep moving forward.

Another speaker, Alex, found the support to share his story for the first time among those gathered.

“I did a lot of harm to myself and to the community, I lived to use,” he told listeners. He is currently facing charges and was only offered 1 option for recovery, something that terrified him.

“I was scared to death to go, I didn’t think I was capable of doing it. But that’s when the magic started, getting to know me, the community, and some of the best friends I still have to this day. It’s been a miracle.”

Fields, as well as everyone in attendance was thrilled with the show of support from the community they received during the walk.

“I’m overfilled with joy that this many people found the courage to step out of the darkness and into the light, being willing to recover out loud,” Fields said at the close of the fellowship. He also offered this to those still struggling in the throes of substance use disorder:

“It can happen, inch by inch, people by people. Erasing the stigma is truly amazing.”