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Date: 10/19/2022
LUDLOW – Ludlow CARES is hosting its annual Walk to Remember event to kick off Red Ribbon Week.
CARES is a community-run organization that addresses several issues in town including anti-drug awareness.
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October. It began as a tribute to fallen Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent Enrique (Kiki) Camerena in 1985.
Camarena was a DEA agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico. On Feb. 7, 1985, Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent’s side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena’s body was found.
In honor of Camarena’s memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin and began forming coalitions.
Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the red ribbon to symbolize Camarena’s memory.
Red Ribbon week this year is from Oct. 23 to 30 with the Walk to Remember taking place on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club.
The walk is a candlelight vigil that serves to remember those who died due to substance abuse and support those and their families who are on the road to recovery.
Ludlow CARES Vice President and Walk to Remember Chair Ben Bovee talked about the impact this event has on him and the community.
He said, “I am a recovering alcoholic and that is what attracted me to CARES. I am also a parent and I worry about how I can help my kids not go down the path I did. Even more importantly, part of what I want folks to know is even if you do make these decisions that lead you down this path, there is hope.”
Bovee said that CARES tries to supply the school systems with their requests for materials. This year they are supplying red tulip planting kits in remembrance of Red Ribbon Week.
He said, “When folks plant these flowers, it is a commitment to stay drug free.”
There will also be red ribbons handed out and displayed all throughout the town to remind people about Red Ribbon Week.
Bovee said, “I believe that everybody in the town of Ludlow should show up to the walk. I would challenge anybody to tell me that they haven’t either lost a loved one, friend or know someone who has lost someone to the opioid epidemic or other substance abuse.”
He added, “I would love to see that those in recovery get support from the community and let them see the message of hope.”
There will be some guest speakers at the walk that will talk about their experience, strength, hope and the losses they have faced.
Bovee said, “I would love as many people as possible to show up. Eventually years down the road we can become more open about substance use disorder and have better ways to support those in need.
Ultimately in a few years hopefully no one comes because there is no longer a need to have a candlelight vigil because we stopped losing people to substance use disorder.”