Running for Recovery on June 4

Last year I wrote about an important event called the Heroes in Recovery 6k. I completed the race in South Florida and was able to share my story of recovery while I was there. It was later published on their website. The Heroes in Recovery 6k was emotional for me last year. It was the first race I ran for recovery. It was the first race I ran that I really felt was for me. That I was part of these 23 million people who thrive in recovery, that we really are completing heroic acts, just by living in recovery from our addictions. I was amongst my people and running that race with the support of my sister and brother-in-law really moved me. I suppose it will be just as emotional for me this year. This year I am 3 years sober and in a little better shape physically (last year I was just coming back from my knee surgery!)

This year South Florida's Heroes in Recovery 6k is located in Fort Lauderdale and is set to take place on June 4th, 3 days before my birthday! I'm signed up to run again and I can't wait to participate in such an awesome event again this year.

Each year Heroes picks a different charity beneficiary for each race and this year's organization for Florida is Young People in Recovery. I've written before about how I love YPR and what they're doing, but as a reminder, YPR is national advocacy organization focusing on national policy, recovery-ready communities, and helping youth find and maintain recovery from addiction. The work they are doing is very much needed and for that reason they're the perfect beneficiary for this year's race.

About Heroes in Recovery:

Heroes celebrates the heroic acts of those who seek the addiction and mental health help they need, free from isolation and shame. Their goal is to remove the social stigma surrounding addiction and mental health by sharing the stories of those who have found recovery and through the 6k races that represent the extra mile those in recovery must go. By empowering communities to celebrate sobriety and engaging in community by giving back, as well as encouraging people to live healthy, active lives, Heroes is at the forefront of changing the way the public views recovery.

I encourage everyone to sign up for any of the Heroes in Recovery 6k races and put a face to addiction recovery. Get your family and friends to sign up too. It's up to us to make a difference and shatter the stigma. Running for recovery is good for your mind, body, and soul. If you're running with me on June 4 or want to, please use my code: SOBERSENORITAHEROES for $10 off. You can sign up here.

Can't make it on June 4? You can sign up to be a virtual runner. You can run or walk 6k from wherever you are virtually. Send your photos or video of your participation, or your GPS watch results, and Heroes will send you a finisher's medal and race shirt.

There are also other Heroes in Recovery races located across the U.S. including North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Georgia, and Arizona. Be sure to look for your location and sign up.

It's about more than just running. It's about support, advocacy, and breaking the stigma of addiction so others like us will be able to reach out and get the help they need. I am proud to be a part of this movement. I'm proud of my recovery and of who I am. I'm proud to be a hero in recovery.

See you all on June 4!