EDITORIAL: Walk provides strength for those recovering from addiction

Sep. 13—Tomorrow, the second annual Walk for Recovery is happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mill Pond — Horace Park. Kicked off last year, this event is an incredible addition to efforts supporting those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

There will be music, food, speakers and community resources available, but more importantly it brings with it that important note of support.

Recovery will be the focus and there will be a celebratory aspect as those who are in recovery make one more day, clean and sober.

Even though this is an important event, which we advocate for people to attend, it's important to note that this doesn't necessarily mean the finish line.

For many recovering from addiction it's just one more day in the process of being clean. For others, the sad reality is they could relapse.

Addiction is a life-long effort and it will continue long after Saturday's event, which makes the Walk for Recovery so important, because it is a signpost that declares, "you've made it this far ... you're ready to go a little further."

And if there is a relapsed, it denotes a point that allows a person to come back and try again, and shows that there are others willing to say, "You are worth it."

Each step in recovery is a mile of progress and should rightly be celebrated as such. Those who work to bring this event to Austin are heroes, just as those continuing to walk the path of recovery are heroes.

We hope you come out Saturday to be part of this worthwhile event, but if you can't, we hope you find other ways to lend your support.

And if you are a recovering addict, we encourage you to come out as well. The path is hard enough to walk alone. Make it a little easier by joining others.

There is strength in numbers and there is strength in tomorrow.