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drinkanddrugsnews
| October 2014
‘Could we live up to expectations?’
W
aking up on Saturday morning with a view of an empty Castlefield Arena,
my thoughts ran back over the five previous recovery walks and I thought
to myself, ‘could 2014 live up to the massive expectations?’
What was different for me about this year’s walk was being a member of the
Greater Manchester Recovery Federation (GMRF) the body who, 18 months pre-walk,
set out on a dream of helping Greater Manchester to host the sixth UK Recovery Walk.
Any worries that nobody would attend were alleviated as the trucks delivering the
stage arrived. Like soldiers, our members and volunteers set about putting together a
mini-festival. Soon the many recoverists from around the UK descended, and our day
sprang into action.
It was a great honour when Annemarie Ward, CEO of UK Recovery Walk,
introduced me and the rest of the GMRF core group and invited us to welcome our
guests from all over the country. There were so many people I knew personally from
all corners of the UK during my six years in recovery.
Another great moment was leading the walk and carrying the GMRF banner with
Kath, Julie and my twin brother Dominic. I will remember looking back down
Deansgate at all the amazing banners that people had made.
The walk was amazing but we had an afternoon of highs still to come. The acts
still to perform included our band, It’s All About Me, which I’m part of with my
brother Dominic, Jason and Lewis. After our act, I stood on the stage and officially
closed the 6th UK Recovery Walk 2014, and my thoughts went back to the early
morning when I had wondered if we would live up to past walks and be a good
representation of our recovery movement here in the UK. I may be biased, but I think
we did. It was an amazing day that will live long in my heart and mind as I’m sure it
will for many people of Greater Manchester and beyond.
Special thanks to the UK Recovery Walk charity and all their members and we
wish Dot, Mark and all at Durham the very best for 2015. And to my amazing friends
at the GMRF, be very proud. We did it – let the legacy of the walk be that recovery in
Greater Manchester will continue to thrive.
One love, we do recover.
David Dakan
Peer support |
UK Recovery Walk
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
WALK THIS WAY
How does it feel to take part in the UK Recovery Walk? Four participants
tell us about their experiences in Greater Manchester last month
‘I felt pride I had never felt before’
A
s the morning of 13 September came I could not believe that all the
organising, planning, meetings and conversation cafés would be no
more and the sixth annual UK Recovery Walk was upon us in our very
own city. This walk was the first that I had ever attended and it was made
extra special to know that my family and my daughter of two years, whom
I had when in recovery, would be there to attend and be part of an amazing
day. As both an employee of the UKRW charity and a member of Greater
Manchester Recovery Federation, many months of my life had been
focusing on this incredible day.
On arrival at 8.30am I was able to see the transformation at
Castlefield take place as the stage was built, marquees erected and
people started to arrive. For the rest of my life I will remember looking
out from the stage at thousands of faces, approximately 8,000 happy
joyous people, free from substances, high on life, celebrating recovery.
All the hard work that was put in was worth it. I felt a sense of pride I
have never felt before and I felt part of this huge family that stood
united, overcoming what I can only describe as one of my hardest
personal battles. I could stand tall and say I had a part in that walk,
however small, as did many other people – and for that I thank them.
The message, simply, is we can recover and we do recover. The legacy
from this year’s walk fills me with hope and excitement about the future
of our recovery community and GMRF. What made my day extra special
was I got to share it with the most important person in my life. As I stood
on stage, Ava held by my mum had the biggest smile on her face, waving,
shouting mummy and blowing kisses. That is priceless and a memory I
will always remember, ever reminding me should I ever forget – my
recovery is so worth it!
Danielle Woolley