The Villa Veritas Foundation’s Walk the Walk for Recovery, to be held Sunday, September 22, 2019 at the Walkway Over The Hudson in Highland, NY, is a uniquely positive fundraiser focused on solutions. Now in its eighth year, the event promotes understanding of drug and alcohol addiction, but its primary mission is to deliver a simple, powerful message against the constant barrage of bad news about substance abuse: treatment works and people can and do recover.

The fundraising goal of the Walk the Walk for Recovery is to help make recovery possible for those with financial barriers to treatment. Villa Veritas Foundation invites anyone whose life has been touched by addiction, recovery, or treatment to participate in this event. More information and registration forms can be found at villaveritas.org/walk or by calling (845) 626-3555.

ABOUT THE ADDICTION CRISIS

*National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports for 2017, 72,306 drug overdose deaths up from estimated 18,000 deaths in 1999 (per year).

*In New York State the Rockefeller Institute reports from 2015 to 2016 deaths increased by 29% - 2015 – 3,009 deaths – 2016 – 3,894 deaths.

*In Ulster County alone it rose from 35 deaths – 2015 to 63 deaths – 2016, that’s an 80% rise!

*Millions of individuals struggle every day with drug and alcohol abuse, which causes a ripple effect of physical and mental health problems, criminal activity, automobile crashes, and lost productivity in the workplace.

*Families, friends, and communities also suffer. In other words, whether or not you or someone close to you has a substance abuse disorder, addiction impacts your life in some way.

CELEBRATING THE SOLUTION

Here’s the good news: treatment is effective. Celebrating success with an event like Walk the Walk for Recovery offers proof that there is hope. Sue Cusack, President and CEO of Villa Veritas, sees that hope, and the success it can lead to, first-hand every day. “Hundreds of people who were former clients come to the Walk,” says Sue. “Family members of clients come, and people come to march in memory of someone. I love seeing former clients come back with their babies! Meeting and greeting all these members of our community is a very moving experience.”

The fundraising goal of the Walk the Walk for Recovery is a vital part of the Villa Veritas mission. Cusack names financial barriers as the number one reason why people do not seek a treatment program. Other barriers to treatment include denial on the part of the addict and his or her family, the stigma and shame associated with addiction, and for women, the inability to be away from their families or fear of losing custody of their children.

EVENT DETAILS

The Walk The Walk for Recovery takes place on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at the Walkway Over The Hudson State Historic Park’s West (Highland) entrance, located at 87 Haviland Road, Highland, NY 12528.

The event schedule is as follows:
11:30am: Registration/Check-in
12:00pm: Introduction
12:30pm: Start of Walk

Participation in the event is free.
•$25 donation per person includes a bracelet and t-shirt

For registration and donations can be processed in several different ways:
•Online at villaveritas.org/walk
•By Phone (845) 626-3555
•By Check Payable to Villa Veritas Foundation, PO Box 610, Kerhonkson, NY 12446

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