R-U-N: Recovery Unites Neighbors 5K Road Race

Healthy Acadia’s Drug Free Communities Initiative and a planning group of community Coalition members are excited to invite community members to participate in "R-U-N 2016: Recovery Unites Neighbors," 5K run. Check-in and registration begin at 5:30 pm. The race will begin at 6:00pm behind the Downeast Family YMCA, 238 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine.

A post-event candlelight vigil will be held in adjacent Knowlton Park from 7:30-9:00pm. Please join us as we gather to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, and to support families and honor those that have died from substance misuse.

Funds raised through “R-U-N 2016: Recovery Unites Neighbors” will support Healthy Acadia and Your Place, Inc. initiatives focused on substance education, prevention, support and recovery in Hancock County, Maine.
Healthy Acadia is a community health organization and the Healthy Maine Partnership serving Hancock and Washington counties. Healthy Acadia engages in a broad range of initiatives that build healthier communities and make it easier for people to lead healthy lives. These initiatives include: creating healthy environments in the workplace, the home, and at school; farm to school programs; promoting active lifestyles; improving food security and nutrition; positive social development; and preventing tobacco use and substance misuse.

Your Place, Inc. is an Ellsworth-based, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization working to foster and encourage a community-based, safe and supportive environment for those in need including those suffering from or recovering from substance use disorders or other addictions. Your Place, Inc. strives to involve individuals, families and community members in such efforts and to increase community awareness about the impact of and recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders and other addictive disorders.

Register online here or in person on the day of the event beginning at 5:30 pm at the race start line. The first 50 registrants will receive a free, "R-U-N 2016" t-shirt.

R-U-N events will serve to kick-off National Recovery Month. Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness of behavioral health conditions. This observance promotes the belief that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.This year's theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!” highlights the important role that individuals and communities alike have in helping people lead healthy, productive and substance-free lives. If you would like to donate but are unable to attend either event, click here.

For questions or additional information about R-U-N, email Michele Wagstaff at mwagstaff1097@gmail.com or call 664-8605. For more information about local substance misuse prevention and awareness initiatives, email Denise Black at Healthy Acadia: denise@healthyacadia.org or call 667-7171.