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October 2014 |
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UK Recovery Walk
‘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...’
‘I was part of something amazing’
W
hen we heard the news that we had won the opportunity to host the
UKRW, a spark of enthusiasm was ignited. This grew and grew, and with
the introduction of a conversation café at the planning meetings we
had participation from hundreds of individuals who offered help, ideas or
support. These fantastic people came from all of the boroughs of Greater
Manchester. The GMRF had always wanted to find a way of uniting the ten
boroughs and this was definitely working, proving that this was going to be the
biggest UKRW and hopefully the best yet.
With each year that passes the UKRW has grown in popularity and the
number of attendees has increased. They say there were 8,000 people at this
year’s UKRW, and everyone who I have spoken to says they have a new refreshed
way of looking at recovery and what it means to them, their families and their
communities. The language we use to describe ourselves and the positive
statements have gone a long way in challenging stigma – not just what we see in
the media and how we are referred to by Joe Public, but also in our internal voices
and how we see ourselves ‘fitting in’. The planning group gave everyone a chance
to have a voice. Many of these people went on to volunteer on the day of the
walk and we are so grateful to them all.
As part of the GMRF I was privileged to be at the very front of the walk, and
there was a group of very talented drummers right behind us, providing us with
music and a beat. This set the pace and the mood of the walk for me. At one point
we were held at a waiting point while police and traffic management cleared the
last of the traffic away. At this point I turned to face the crowd behind me and felt
I was part of something truly amazing.
We spontaneously began clapping to show our appreciation, the police
joined in and so did others and soon, with the drums, the clapping, the
shouting and the whistling, the noise of a big city on a crowded Saturday
afternoon was drowned out. I had goosebumps, and at that point I knew that
no matter how hard we had all worked, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Julie Lloyd-Holt
‘Hard work… but what a buzz’
I
t’s all about today – 13 September. All the hard work done? Hehehe, not
bloody likely! It’s going to be great, in my element. Putting on a party
for over 8,000 ‘recoverists’ – amazing! Inspiring. I’m there. Right, as a
core member of the GMRF I have a responsibility. What’s that? Fill that big
screen with walkers walking the walks? Right. No camera! No Wi-Fi! Oh
dear. Time to shine, Oli – use what you know, think on ya feet.
‘Excuse me bud, can I borrow you to do some filming? I need to fill that
screen!’
‘Sure bud, no problem. Waddya need?’
Great stuff! It's amazing what you can get if you ask. Ok then, let’s join
the throng!
We go to the front. People are gathering. People are smiling. People all in
recovery, or friends and supporters of them, are together, joined as one, in
unity, as a celebration. It’s ok. It’s good. Life is good. I may have bad days but
it’s not a bad life. And all these people show me this. I can see it in their
faces. They are living it.
Three, two, one… and we’re off. Get the shots? Run about? Jeez this is
hard work! But so worth it. Get some great footage, easy as Rochdale go
past, London, Brighton, Yorkshire, fellowship people, SMART. All
representing the area where they live a life in recovery. It’s important. Just
being there and advocating in numbers. Members of the public look
quizzical. Walkers inform and advocate. What a buzz.
Back to the stage. Edit the pictures, stick a graphic on the end, bung
the MPEG on a stick. Can’t wait to see the reaction.
Henry Maybury takes to the stage, second song in and ‘voila!’ It's on
the screen and people are watching. They are laughing, pointing. I love it.
This for me is what it’s about. People in unison, walking that walk, loving
recovery. Brilliant!
Oliver Rice
Henry Maybury is raising money for addiction and recovery charities with
his single Lost Days, www.henrymaybury.com