Run for Recovery Raises Awareness and Money to Help Community Members in Need

Run for Recovery Raises Awareness Edgewood Treatment Centre Nanaimo BC

Edgewood Treatment Centre is preparing to host the ninth annual twilight Run for Recovery on Friday, June 21st. The route for the six-kilometre run (or walk) is around the beautiful Westwood Lake in Nanaimo, BC. Proceeds will go to the the Haven Society, a local Nanaimo organization that promotes the integrity and safety of women, children, youth, and families, and the development of a respectful and healthy community.

You can register to run or walk, as an individual, family, or team, on the Running Room website.

Getting Together as a Community for Some Healthy Fun

Edgewood does a lot of serious work helping people work towards recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. The point of Run for Recovery is to get together as a community and participate in fun, healthy activities. In addition to the run itself, there will be many other activities before and after, including the following:

  • Huge raffle draw
  • Massive silent auction
  • Giant BBQ
  • Bouncy castle
  • Balloon animals
  • Face painting

The Haven Society

The Haven Society, which will receive the proceeds from this year’s Run for Recovery, is a local nonprofit organization that helps some of the most vulnerable women, youth, and children in the community. The Haven Society’s purpose is to provide shelter, programs, and services for victims of abuse. Their range of programs and services includes education, counselling, crisis support, and advocacy—they reflect feminist principles as well as a commitment to diversity.

It’s All About Bringing Together Community and Raising Awareness

Edgewood is proud of their fundraising results, having raised over $135,000 over the years—but the most important goal is to bring together community and raise awareness that there is life after addiction. Bonnie Bartlett, Marketing Director at Edgewood, says the following:

We want to really show people who have been touched by addiction in one way or another that recovery is possible. We want to give them hope and gather our community. It’s all about raising awareness and advocating for recovery.

She also adds the following:

It’s the involvement of the whole community that really gives me goosebumps—when the race starts and I see how many people have come out.

Last year, over 300 people attended, and Bartlett’s goal is to exceed those numbers this year, in honour of Edgewood’s 25th anniversary. She urges everyone to put together a team: challenge your co-workers, talk to your neighbours, but most importantly, come on out and have some fun while helping to challenge the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders.

Register Today!

The Run for Recovery is on Friday, June 21st: sign in starts at 5:30 pm and the run starts at 6:30 pm, sharp. You can register to run or walk, as an individual, family, or team, on the Running Room website. For more information, you can contact Bonnie Bartlett at [email protected].

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