The Prairie Center

Walk for Recovery 2010

FIRST ANNUAL WALK for RECOVERY

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Centennial Park

The Staff, Board and all of our volunteers would like to thank everyone that participated in our 1st Annual Walk for Recovery. Our success was the result of the direct support and participation of the local community. The Prairie Center's mission is to provide the highest quality of prevention, intervention and treatment services for alcoholism and chemical dependency. One of our most important goals is to promote and put a face on the recovery process through advocacy, education, prevention and service.

In our first year, we had over 200 walk participants and created an opportunity for additional friends, families and community sponsors to get a chance to meet one another and learn more about the lives we all share in common. When a face is put on recovery, we witness a growing concern for self, family and friends. These concerns become the foundations on which our community is built.

Special thanks goes out to Dave Benton from WCIA who emceed the our welcoming ceremony. State Representative Naomi Jakobsson and Champaign City Council Member Karen Foster were in attendance and made comments on the impact that The Prairie Center has on our community.

Walk for Recovery

Walk for Recovery sponsors provided numerous contributions that were included in the participant raffle that followed the event ceremony. Illinois American Water provided water bottles and chilled water and, at just the right moment, lunch was provided by Hendrick House.

Walk for Recovery

A highlight of the walk was the raffle to win a car. Everyone that participated in the walk was given a raffle ticket as part of their registration. All you had to do was participate in the walk and you had a chance to win a car that was donated by O'Brien Auto Park. Entertainment during the walk was provided by Melvin Likins and Mixin Crew.

It is always difficult to ask others for their help. At The Prairie Center, we find ourselves not only helping others who have asked for our help with their struggle to recovery, but also asking others to give their support in furthering our mission.

This event made a difference! How do we know that? Our clients told us they had no idea that so many people in this community cared about helping them with their struggle. Our walk had an impact, in a positive way, on the lives of so many people. We have already started planning for next year's walk. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2nd Annual Walk for Recovery.