“If we want to beat the addiction that is ravaging our communities, then we need to come together as a community in this battle,” shared Lorie Kurrell, founder and director of the Walking Free Clubhouse. “Walking Free Clubhouse strives to improve the recovery resources and to continue to meet the needs of our rural community. We are honored to host this event and hope at least one person benefits from it.”

The goal of the Recovery Walk is to enhance the education and awareness surrounding addiction and recovery in the community. It is a fundraiser intended to bring the community together to fight against addiction and to help keep the Clubhouse doors open so they can “continue to fight against addiction” and bring resources and support to those who need it, said Kurrell.

The Walking Free Clubhouse is a non-profit organization with a focus on supporting individuals and their families through the recovery process. The Clubhouse offers various resources including: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, Medicated Assisted Recovery Anonymous meetings, and Turn It Around Recovery. They also offer Narcoholc Anon and Susquehanna Valley Mediations Families in Recovery as a support group for families.

The Recovery Walk is one of the events done with the entire community, everyone is welcome to attend, even if they do not plan to participate in the walk.

Submitted photo Members of the community gather at the Middleburg Carnival Grounds in 2024 for the inaugural Recovery Walk.

The Recovery Walk is set to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday with live music by Becky from Becky Blue Band followed by three inspirational speakers: Dawn Kitchens who is in recovery; Michelle Creasey, founder of Jeremy’s Journey who will share the family perspective as she lost her son to an overdose; and Kurrell.

The mile walk begins at approximately 12:45 p.m. There is a $20 registration fee that can be paid the day of the event. Walkers will receive a free T-shirt and goodie bag.

There will also be a butterfly release at 2 p.m. to “honor those living with addiction, impacted by addiction, or lost to addiction” and a memory board will also be available for those lost to addiction.

Also available will be recovery resources tables, food concessions, basket raffle and 50/50 drawing, and kids’ games with prizes and face painting.

Kurrell said the number one reason the Recovery Walk was introduced was to educate the community and raise awareness surrounding addiction and recovery.

“There is not enough education and awareness brought to our communities surrounding addiction and our communities are being ravaged by addiction,” shared Kurrell. “(The Recovery Walk) is our way of fighting back against addiction on a community level.”

The Recovery Walk is the Walking Free Clubhouse’s biggest fundraiser of the year with proceeds going towards keeping the doors open as they continue to fight against addiction and help the individual, families, and the community.