Break the Shame hosts a Walk for Recovery

After five and a half years Elani Richardson, founder of Break the Shame still goes to NA meetings once a week. She said, candidly, “Just because I’m a part of Narcotics Anonymous doesn’t mean nobody can know I’m an addict. Telling people is up to you, it’s a level of self-acceptance. That’s where Break the Shame comes in. Society has created this image that an addict is a junkie on the street – it’s not. The street is just where you end up. When I was younger I didn’t classify myself as an alcoholic because I didn’t sleep on a park bench. Society has created this stigma attached to addiction.”

Richardson maintains ignoring the problem doesn’t fix it. She added, “We need to fix the problem and have educational programmes to teach children about drugs. There needs to be prevention-based programmes in primary schools and solution-based programmes in high schools.”

One such activity to raise awareness is the Walk for Recovery, done annually. This year, it is happening on 19 September. Richardson said, “The walk is open to anyone. We’re walking for addiction and addiction recovery. You don’t have to be an addict or have had addiction touch your life. It’s just for support and to raise awareness that there is life after recovery.”

The event has four guest speakers – Zoleka Mandela, Shani Krebs, Trevor Kleinhans, author of Secrets make you Sick and Roxy Ghanchi. The MC for the event will be Craig Urbani. It is a 4km walk that will start at Ferndale High School at 8am. Entry is free.

Supporters, who register by sending their name to info@breaktheshame.org.za or to 32545 via SMS, will receive a goodie bag.