Amanda Williams, an Eastern Oregon Alcoholism Foundation resident, passes out Celebrate Recovery flyers at an event in recognition of National Recovery Month at McKenzie Park in Hermiston. File photo

During a Recovery Walk in March, Kathy Fulton talked about how her life changed dramatically after giving up alcohol and drugs.

On Valentine’s Day, 2004, Fulton left her husband, Larry, behind in California because of his continued substance abuse.

Kathy, who had been clean and sober since 2000, got tired of watching Larry spiraling out of control.

“I decided that’s it – I’m not putting up with that anymore,” she recalled.

Less than seven weeks after Kathy left her husband, Larry followed her to Hermiston and has remained substance-free since.

Stories like Kathy and Larry’s will be shared and celebrated from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 during a Recovery Walk in conjunction with September’s National Alcohol & Drug Recovery Month.

The 5-mile walk, sponsored by the Lower Columbia Basin Coalition, will begin and end at Belt Park, 705 W. Pine Ave., Hermiston.

“The reason for starting at that park is the symbolism of the recovery tree there,” said Bonnie Gracia, prevention coordinator for Umatilla County Addictions Program Prevention/Treatment.

The tree was donated on behalf of the Lower Columbia Basin Coalition by Westwinds Nursery.

Gracia said it’s important for people to understand that alcoholism and drug addiction can be treated.

She said increased awareness can help eliminate the stigma attached to substance abuse. Gracia said skid row bums and people living under bridges are only a small percentage of those afflicted with drug and alcohol problems.

She stressed that substance abuse touches people of all ages, races, religious beliefs and socio-economic status.

The visibility of the event is intended to encourage others to seek recovery.

“They might be more willing or able to seek help or treatment if there was no longer a stigma or shame attached,” Gracia said.

Carol Greene, a contracted alcohol and drug treatment provider with Umatilla County Community Corrections, agreed.

“It gives people hope,” she said. “It lets people see that they can really change – that there is another way to live.”

Val Bradley, a social service assistant at the Department of Human Services Child Welfare, said it’s important for people still in bondage to substance abuse to know that people can recover.

“By us getting out there in the community … people might be more apt to go that direction because they know people care and there are people that are sober,” she said.

Greene added people would be surprised by the number of people in recovery.

“There are people that are sober and there’s hope you can live a clean and sober life,” Bradley added.