'I lost my partner and kids through drink and drugs now I'm climbing the Wrekin to raise money for the charity that helped turn my life around'
A group of charity workers and some of the people they have helped recover from addiction, are set to take on the Wrekin over a 24 hour period.
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The Big Wrekin Walk is being organised by TACT (Telford After Care Team).
The group, which helps people recover from addiction problems, was founded in 2012 by Robert Eyers who himself endured 20 years of addiction.
One of the people helped by the group, a 43-year-old who has spent 15 months recovering from a 20-year addiction to alcohol and cocaine, is joining them on the 24-hour endurance climb.
He said: “I'd been hooked on cocaine and alcohol for 20 years. Then when my mum passed away things got really bad. I lost my partner, my children – things had got really bad.
“I'd been to detox four times but had no support afterwards so fell back into it.
“Then on the last time, I find help at TACT. They have been there for me for the last 15 months, helping me with things like appointments, housing and being there for support. They have helped me turn things around and rebuild my life, which is why I'm taking part in the Big Wrekin Walk.
Alex Graham from the charity said they provide one to one support for recovering addicts, but with limited funds, there are only so many people they can help.
“With the money raised from Big Wrekin Walk we'll have a pot of money that will help us support more people. We also need a new support pod, where people hold face to face meetings so we hope people can support us.”
The Big Wrekin Walk will see five teams of people from TACT go up an down the iconic mount as many times as they can in 24 hours.
It begins on Saturday, March 1 at 9am.
Those able to support TACT on their fundraising walk can do so via: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/TACT-s-BIG-Wrekin-Walk
