Ex-Corrie star Kevin’s bid to help addicts
Soap favourite’s charity has received more than 700 calls during lockdown
FORMER Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy has used his time in lockdown to launch an addiction recovery charity to help others with addictive and mental health disorders.
Kevin, who played lovable Curly Watts in the soap, has been in recovery from an alcohol addiction for 22 years, and is hoping that his charity Kennedy Street Foundation can help hundreds of people across the country on their own road to recovery.
During lockdown the charity received calls from more than 700 desperate people and families struggling with addiction and mental health illness during the crisis.
Kevin and his wife Clare, who is also in recovery, offer a helpline manned by trained coaches all in active recovery who offer free virtual recovery support, signposting and virtual workshops.
The charity is backed by some of Kennedy’s celebrity pals – including fellow former Corrie star and Loose Woman Denise Welch who quit booze in 2012.
Throughout this month they’re hosting a 5K fundraising event called Road2Recovery.
“The Kennedy Street Foundation is my passion; all we want to do is help people who find themselves in the desperate situation I was in 22 years ago,” said Kevin, from Wythenshawe. “Our national recovery helpline is receiving calls every day and we really need to raise as much money as possible in order to be able to help each and every one start their own Road2Recovery.”
Kevin entered rehab in 1998 after the death from alcoholism of his friend Kevin Lloyd, who played Tosh Lines in The Bill.
“The difference is I don’t reach for the bottle when things come on top. It’s one day at a time,” he said.
Kevin played Curly for 20 years, from 1983 to 2003, and in recent years he has carved out a successful career in musical theatre.
The Kennedy Street Foundation has raised more than £5,000 so far and has racked up enough virtual miles to get participants from Brighton to Paris.
Kevin himself has already walked 35km.
● To get involved in the #Road2Recovery event, visit kennedystreetcio.org/r2r/