Walkers brave the rain at Recovery Walk

Hundreds of people braved the wet weather in Glasgow to take part in a walk remembering those lost to addiction and celebrating others’ recovery journeys last Saturday (October 12).

The Scottish Recovery Consortium's annual Recovery Walk was held at Glasgow Green on Saturday, with CrossReach recovery services in attendance.

The day began with a moving ceremony where roses were placed into the River Clyde in memory of those lost to addiction. There was plenty of emotion as the large crowd made its way to the river to place their roses in the water, a poignant display that highlighted the seriousness of addiction.

After this emotional ceremony, there was a noticeable shift in energy as charities, addiction support services and members of the public lined up to kick off the walk through the streets of Glasgow.

Staff and service users from CrossReach Glasgow Recovery Services were in attendance in numbers with walkers wearing t-shirts with the words ‘Sock It To Addiction’ on them, the group’s theme for this year’s walk.

One committed walker from the service even donned a Minion outfit from the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise throughout the three-mile walk.

The weather on the day was not for the feint of heart, with heavy rain a regular feature throughout the morning and afternoon. Thankfully, the walk itself stayed mostly dry with walkers able to keep the hoods down for most of it.

There was a real sense of togetherness and solidarity amongst the services and groups which had travelled to the walk from across the country with CrossReach service Beechwood House bringing participants down from Inverness to take part.

It was also nice to see the positive reactions from the people of Glasgow who cheered walkers on to the finish line. Many car drivers, whose journey times were likely extended due to traffic restrictions as a result of the walk, got in the spirit of the walk, peeping their horns in encouragement to those walking.

One passer-by even stopped to ask about the walk and what it represented, offering her best wishes to those taking part.

Following the walk, there were some moving speeches from various people including Scottish Recovery Consortium CEO Tracy McFall before Glasgow Green became host to several live local musicians for a party atmosphere.

Several stalls were up, including from CrossReach Glasgow Recovery Services, offering games and information on the dedicated services across the country available to support in the fight against addiction.

Overall, the afternoon was a huge success capturing the weight of the consequences of addiction, celebrating those who have recovered and are on the path to recovery, and highlighting the support available to those who need it.