Hundreds gathered for the Seventh Annual One Day at A Time March for Recovery Sunday afternoon. The march, sponsored by the Estill County Fiscal Court and WestCare promotes awareness about drug recovery. Members of school and church organizations and government officials were present for the march.
Approximately 200 people gathered Sunday afternoon to celebrate recovery during the One Day at a Time March for Recovery.
The march, sponsored by the Estill County Fiscal Court and WestCare, happens annually to promote awareness about drug addiction and to celebrate recovery for those who have overcome their addictions.
In its seventh year, the march began at the fairgrounds with free food and presentations from members of the Lee, Estill and Owsley County Drug Court and Rep. Ted Edmonds.
One of the speakers, Stacy Daily, is in phase three of her drug court process and said being given the opportunity to get clean has changed her life.
Daily was addicted to drugs, continued to get in trouble and had been in jail. She asked to be allowed to go to drug court and straighten herself out.
“I wanted to change my life,” she said. “I wanted to do something with my life.”
Daily has been drug-free for over a year.
She told the court about all the good things that have come out of being given the opportunity to do drug court.
“Drug Court isn’t a punishment,” she said. “It’s a way to change your life.”
Michelle Estes and her husband, Darrell, were also asked to speak to the crowd about their accomplishments after graduating from Drug Court.
After graduating, she was able to get her GED, driver’s license, a job and her independence back, she said.
Estes has been clean for nearly three years and said overcoming addiction is still an everyday battle.
“It’s about being successful in the moment,” she said. “In this hour, in this moment, in this day, I am clean.”
She said the March for Recovery is essential to helping those suffering from drug addiction.
“It takes the whole community getting together to accomplish this,” she said.
Edmonds lead the group of marchers in prayer and the march proceeded across the Irvine Bridge lead by the Irvine Division of Police and the Estill County High School (ECHS) JROTC Color Guard.
Other local groups from churches, WestCare, the Marching Engineers and ECHS were present to march.