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ARC to host 'Recovery Rocks'
The ARC, located on 110 Pleasant St., has a logo that states: "If you get here, we will help you get there." The organization's primary goal is to provide charitable and educational support for addicts in the community. "We provide 31 self-help meetings a week and see 500 plus people a week," ARC Executive Director Marie Cheetham said. The organization also provides a 24-hour intervention hotline and referral service for inpatient and outpatient needs. When dealing with chemical dependencies, it can be difficult for families, Cheetham said, so some of the services that the center provides are for family members. Cheetham said that the role that the center plays is essential for addicts because many of its clients are high-level professionals and the ARC gives them the opportunity to receive the daily social support that they need in an environment where they are surrounded by other addicts who understand their struggles. "The family members and loved ones are wonderful," Cheetham said. "If love was all it took to cure an addict, there would not be any." The ARC has helped many people in the community regain their lives after leaving a treatment plan. Part of the ARC's mission is to help retain the dignity of people while they are in recovery. Kevin Brown, a former board member and active fund-raiser for the ARC, has seen the good work that the center does and is among its many supporters. "What they do inside those walls saves lives," he said. He recounted a story about a close friend of his who was homeless and he credited the ARC for turning his friend's life around. "I never expected him to make it to 25," Brown said, "and 23 years later [with the help of the ARC], he is a 47-year-old contributing member of society with three children." After seeing the success his friend had, Brown became hooked on ARC's mission and has since dedicated countless hours to help the organization. He recently donated $16,000 that he raised through his participation in his first Iron Man triathlon. He became interested in doing an Iron Man while serving on the ARC's board of directors, and decided that would be a great way to raise money for the ARC. After 31 weeks of training and fund-raising, Brown said, his first triathlon was "awesome and so incredible." Because of that experience, Brown decided to expand his fund-raising eff orts this year and will compete in two triathlons, where he will once again bike 112 miles, run a 26.2-mile marathon and then swim 2.5 miles. ARC currently receives both private and public funding to not only run the programs at the center, but also to provide outreach education programs with in the community. One of the programs that the organization has been actively involved with is alcohol and drug education programs in local schools. Brown is hoping that the money he hopes to continue to raise will allow the center to continue to expand the programs. The upcoming barbecue will feature bands "Bingo and Snap," "Doctor Malcolm" and "Still in the Cellar," as well as holding a 50-50 raffle with great prizes to entice the community to come out have fun while also supporting the ARC. Tickets for the event are $10; admission is free for children 12 and under. For more information, visit www.theaddictionreferralcenter. com. |
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