Trails of Recovery: Eternal Media

June 27, 2023

As some of you know, Wulf Livingston and I have been interviewing James Deakin, Founder of the North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) in Bangor for our Recovery Voices project. I’ve been amazed to hear what’s been going on at NWRC.

Since starting our project, I’ve also been hearing about the great work done by Eternal Media from North Wales, a media production social enterprise and charity making high impact documentary films and content for non-profits, groups, organisations and business. Eternal Media, which was Founded by Marcus Fair, himself in long-term recovery from addiction, has been working closely with NWRC. I love the above film.

Trails of Recovery follows NWRC members over seven days and 100 miles as they walk around Anglesey’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 coastal path to celebrate and make Recovery more visible. This is the first of  ‘Eternal’s Recovery Hub’ presentations. More films and podcasts have been made and released by Eternal Recoverists.

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Phil Valentine Sets Off Today: Recovery on the Appalachian Trail

March 19, 2015

photo-224x300“First of all, celebrations to Phil on his five year recovery from cancer (Today!). And for over 27 years in recovery from addiction.

And if that is not enough he will – in 6 – 8 months time – be in recovery from walking the Appalachian Trail. But firstly, he’s got to walk – and today, get started!!

Wishing you the very best from down under, Phil. We’ll be following you, thinking of you, and spiritually walking alongside you. Enjoy yourself, good friend. Go, Phil, Go.” David Clark and Michael Scott

And for those of you who do not know what is going on, you can find out more here and here. We’ll be following Phil from time-to-time on his journey and I strongly encourage you to follow him directly via: https://twitter.com/pvalentine59 and https://instagram.com/pvalentine59/

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Recovery Walks the Appalachian Trail: From Phil’s Family

March 16, 2015

photo-224x300Yes, Phil Valentine begins his amazing journey this week. I hope his family doesn’t mind, but I just had to show two beautiful blogs that wife Sandy and daughter Samantha have written for Phil’s travel website.

10 Days by Sandy Valentine (March 7, 2015)
‘It’s only 10 days until Phil hops on a plane to Georgia, and officially begins his adventure. Each day this week, he adds another item to the table of supplies he started. Each time I wonder what item will be the first to go when he’s worn that pack a few hours.

I also wonder – who will I blame when the tp roll isn’t changed? Who is going to clear the driveway a la the winter that never ends? Who is going to remind me “trust them (kids) til they give us a reason not to”? Who’s going to make the family brunch on Sundays?

No one can replace his presence in the house, but as we’ve done before, we will create a new “normal”.

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ManyFaces1Voice: Phil Valentine

November 6, 2014

Unknown-1Every now and again when I am feeling a little down, I see a piece of recovery film and it lifts my mood. I found a piece like this yesterday, a film clip from ManyFaces1Voice of Phil Valentine. Here’s what is said about Phil:

‘Phil Valentine is the Executive Director of Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR).

Phil has been instrumental in the development of the recovery movement. He’s been at CCAR since January 1999, when he organized CCAR’s first Recovery Walks! A sought after speaker, he is recognized around the world for his leadership.

In 2006, the Johnson Institute recognized his groundbreaking work with an America Honors Recovery award.

In 2008, Faces & Voices of Recovery honored CCAR with the first Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award, recognizing it as the outstanding recovery community organization in the country.’

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Sydney Recovery Walk… and Not Anonymous Anymore

September 11, 2014

10626563_617927224991384_6034877507074662303_nIt’s great to know that the first Sydney Recovery Walk will take place this Sunday at 11.30 from Circular Quay. I’m thrilled, particularly given all the hard work of a special lady, walk organiser Jessica Khachan Moujalli, and the Rev Bill Crews.

I’ve been communicating with Jessica for nearly a year now and it is really an honour to know her. She’s so humble about her achievements in finding recovery from great adversity, setting up the Sydney Recovery group and Facebook page, and looking after her family.

Sadly, I cannot be there in Sydney, but I’m planning to link up with Jessica by Facetime whilst she is on the Recovery Walk and I walk here in Perth. I will be there in Spirit!

Meanwhile, here’s a one hour radio programme from the ABC about recovery which involves Jess, Bill Crews and Ross Fitzgerald.

PLEASE attend the Walk, celebrate Recovery, and make some special new friends. My very best to you all.

 

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‘Personal Reflections on Recovery Month 2014’ by Bill White

September 8, 2014

recovery monthThis month marks the 25th year of what has evolved into National Recovery Month.  With an early focus on the slogan “Treatment Works,” the event took on its recovery focus in 1998 just as new and renewed grassroots recovery community organizations (RCOs) were rising across the U.S.

RCO representatives came together at the 2001 Recovery Summit in St Paul, MN to launch the formal organization of a new recovery advocacy movement under the leadership of Faces and Voices of Recovery.

In the intervening years, Recovery Month celebration events have grown beyond what anyone could have predicted.  Local recovery celebration events that once welcomed a few dozen brave participants grew into the hundreds and then into the thousands.

This month, in community after community, recovering people and their families and allies will fill parks and streets as far as the eyes can see – an ocean of lives touched and transformed by recovery.   More than 450 recovery celebration events are scheduled this month in the U.S. and such events will also transpire around the world – from Vancouver to Cape Town, from Tokyo to London. 

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Birmingham Recovery Walk

March 5, 2014

It was inspiring to see the latest cut of the film of the 5th UK Recovery Walk which took part in Birmingham in September 2013. It was great to see and hear so many recovering people having a great time. Recovery certainly rocks!

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‘Solving addiction lies in empowerment, not shame’ by Beth Burgess

June 23, 2013

P1011013Found this article by Beth Burgess in the New Statesman in October 2012. Beth is certainly getting her writing in a number of important places. Well done, Beth.

‘Brighton’s Recovery Walk is an important sign that stigma about addiction isn’t acceptable.
What springs to mind when you envisage thousands of excited alcoholics and drug addicts gathered on the streets of Brighton? The casting queue for The Jeremy Kyle Show? Early opening at the dole office? A new Wetherspoons opening up on the seafront?

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