Our Stories
Share the power of long-term recovery. If you are in recovery, a family member, friend or ally of someone in recovery, we want to hear your recovery story!
Learn more...
Voice of the Recovery Community Award
Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) is the recipient of The Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award!
Learn more…
|
Our Stories
Rich Rodriguez
Oregon, OH
In the past I was known as the Drunk among Drunks. 6 years ago I decided enough was enough.
I'm now a top competitor in Triathlon in my age division (swimming, biking, and running). This achievement took a whole world of discipline and hard work. It is because of my lifestyle change I’m so proud to still be married to my wife of 13 years, the same woman who had to put up with my addiction for countless years and I am the proud father of my two daughters.
Involved with my community, I now serve as a Board member for the Oregon Community and family Coalition (O.C.F.C). I also volunteer my time at the police station with other Coalition Members helping with release interviews and assisting the case manager with juveniles who have been arrested and ready to be released from the police departments ACHIEVE program.
Being an avid cyclist I presented an idea to the Board of the OCFC to put on a Bike Tour in the city. It took us 9 months of planning with plenty of entertainment that included speeches from the Mayor, Judge, and professional speakers that spoke on the dangers of Alcohol and Drug use, a performance from the city's favorite Jazz Singer, and a kid's bike rodeo with the faith based Community holding a barbeque. The County F.E.M.A. people volunteered their time and were stationed at the crossroads of the route. It was just cool to have the Mayor personally thank me for what I brought to the City.
My focus now is to start a Campaign that will have an impact on the adolescents drinking alcohol by getting the Dads or Father figures more involved with in alcohol awareness. The campaign name is D.A.A.D. (Dads against adolescent drinking). I am always looking for support or additional information to develop a successful campaign, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at arodrn@buckeye-express.com with your suggestions.
Click here to sign up for the Faces & Voices online newsletter. Meet other powerful faces and voices; get regular updates of the recovery community’s advocacy across the country!