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Recovery in the News
100 people participate in Nicasa's Walk for Recovery
Nicholas J. Alajakis
Lake County News-Sun
May 11, 2008
WAUKEGAN – Debra Bobo is quite familiar with the neighborhoods on the city’s southside.
She’s bought drugs on those streets. She’s done drugs in the houses. She experienced some of her lowest points right there.
She remembers her addiction and her time on the streets well. “Drugs. Alcohol. Whatever got me high,” Bobo said.
She returned to those neighborhoods Saturday. And with a large group following her, she rejoiced in her sobriety.
Bobo was one of more than 100 people to walk a two-mile loop through Waukegan’s southside for Nicasa’s Walk for Recovery. The substance abuse treatment center’s walk is a way to celebrate clean and healthy lives. And for many in the walk it celebrated a life away from drugs and alcohol.
“I don’t carry (addiction) in me anymore. We’re working on restoring our lives,” Bobo said.
Bobo, of Waukegan, was one of 10 women in Nicasa’s Women of W.O.R.T.H. group that led the walk. The group, Working on Restoring Trust and Hope, is made of former addicts who have turned their lives around.
For many, it’s a miracle that they can walk the streets drug and alcohol free. And others who are facing their own addictions need to know that, said Wendy Mabbett of Beach Park.
“We’re not supposed to make it,” Mabbett said. “We’re recovering today and (others) can, too."
To them, the walk was as much a way to celebrate their sobriety as it is to show others that they too can turn their lives around.
During the walk, Women of W.O.R.T.H. President Sharon Jones of Libertyville shouted to people in homes to “wake up” and “get recovered.”
“We’re rebuilding our families, rebuilding our lives. We’re rebuilding the community itself,” Jones said.
The idea of holding the walk on Waukegan’s southside was so that it could impact one of the neighborhoods that most needs it, said County Board member Mary Ross Cunningham. Cunningham was responsible for moving the walk to the neighborhood around Roosevelt Park, from the Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, where it had been held in previous years,
The event held special meaning for many of the women because today is Mother’s Day and they wanted to show their kids that they’ve turned their life around, said Angela Zekucia of Park City, who brought her 11-year-old daughter to the walk.
“If you make a mistake you can fix it,” Zekucia said. “I try to be honest with (my daughter). She’s aware of my past behavior and my addiction. It’s important that
© Lake County News-Sun 2008