WALK OF SUPPORT

THE Fourth annual Cape Town Recovery Walk took place yesterday as part of Heritage Day celebrations.

The aim of the walk was to raise awareness and celebrate recovery from addiction. Many families took part in the walk, supporting loved ones. There were even several dogs en route.

Leslie Cedric Gallant from the Cape Town Network of People Using Drugs said it was encouraging to see how so many people came out to celebrate this important event.

“To know you are not alone really motivates some of us to keep going.”

At around 9.30am people gathered at Greenmarket Square.

The guest speakers were Sara-Jayne King, the author of Killing Karoline, and Desiree-Anne Martin, the author of We Don’t Talk About It. Ever. They sent out words of inspiration and encouragement.

The Cape Town Recovery Walk aims to show that recovery from alcoholism, addiction and mental illness are a lived reality in millions of people’s lives in Cape Town and throughout the world.

By taking part in the walk they aim to counter the shame and stigma and to challenge any public attempt to dehumanise, objectify and demonise people with alcoholism, addiction and mental illness.

“It is to celebrate our own and others’ recoveries, to recognise the people who work within the field of healthcare and to show our solidarity with international recovery movements,” said Gallant. |