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Date: 9/6/2023
BELCHERTOWN — Speaking Out About Addiction and Recovery will be hosting its seventh annual 5K and musical festival on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Belchertown Common from 12-5 p.m.
The event will include live music, a 5K, activities for kids, a family fun walk, raffles, food, vendors, speakers and resources.
“They’ve been very well attended in the past,” SOAAR co-founder Jill Rossi said. “The overall atmosphere on the town common that day is always community and family which is exactly what we wish for. I know that people are struck and moved by our speakers, and people are able to get information and resources as well as find out what is out there as far as help.”
Rustic Fusion food truck and Sober Chef will be providing food along with the Belchertown Police Department, who will be cooking hamburgers and hot dogs.
The 5K costs $30 and the family fun walk is $20 if you register ahead of time at tinyurl.com/yhe343uh.
Online registration ends at midnight on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Registration will cost $35 for the race and $25 for the family fun walk on the day of the event.
Rossi said the 5K will start at 3 p.m. with the family fun walk taking place shortly after the racers take off.
According to Rossi, there will also be someone from the Amherst Fire Department in full turnout gear who will be leading the walk to honor his son who he lost to addiction.
“He wants to honor him and others,” Rossi added.
SOAAR’s mission is “to change the language surrounding addiction; to promote prevention and education and to offer support and resources to all affected.”
SOAAR was founded by a few families who were witnessing a loved one’s struggle with addiction.
Rossi added, “With that we understood how difficult it was being the loved one of that person to watch what is happening and to know that you’re not alone. We put together the organization to help reduce stigma and bring awareness to the fact that this isn’t what you see on TV, this is our kids and our loved ones.”
All proceeds from the event will go directly back to Honest Beginnings Inc. to benefit people in recovery.
SOAAR merged with Honest Beginnings after finding out they have similar missions.
Honest Beginnings’ mission is to “extend recovery beyond the experience into living a fulfilling life. It stands on the pillars of love, trust and accountability and the belief that the heart, respect, and hope will create the structure necessary to live in today’s world.”
“With that, we connected with Honest Beginnings which at the time ran two sober houses in Amherst. We wound up joining forces with them because they were supporting people who were trying to find a sustained recovery and as a byproduct of that, they would be supportive of the families. We wanted to support the families. It was a match made in heaven,” Rossi added.