A support group for people recovering from addictions is planning a sponsored walk in Dalbeattie Forest.
Dumfries and Galloway Recovery Together (DGRT) holds weekly meetings to help people deal with compulsive gambling, alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
And to raise awareness of the group, they will be trying to find the Heart Stane hidden in Dalbeattie Forest on April 29.
It’s the idea of group member Barry Kirkpatrick, who is currently on a quest to walk to all of the 7Stanes.
Barry said: “I’ve got five so far and I now have the motivation I know I’ll get the final two shortly.
“The Dalbeattie Heart Stane hidden in the heart of Dalbeattie Forest is really beautiful and tranquil and is an ideal distance for group members of different fitness levels.
“We are also planning a ‘free’ secret Easter egg hunt over the Easter weekend in Dumfries so make sure you check out our Facebook page for the details of the time and place.”
DGRT now has six groups meeting weekly across the region and it also hosts a weekly Zoom gathering.
Barry attended the Castle Douglas meeting for the first time last year.
He said: “Despite working full-time most of my adult life I have struggled with binge drinking and the effects on my mental health as a result of this.
“My friend had heard of a new recovery group based in Castle Douglas and because of the anonymity of the two of us being from Dumfries and potentially not knowing anyone else there, we attended and we have never really looked back.
“The sessions lasted for two hours – it was seven or eight people in the same room all going through different stages of recovery from gambling addiction, alcohol addiction and mainly drug addiction and we were there for each other.
“We were lucky, we were based in Castle Douglas, just 10 miles from the Solway Coast and over the summer and autumn months we would take a picnic in my car after the sessions and visit the most beautiful surrounding beaches including Mossyard Bay, find hidden waterfalls at Mares Braids and visit lochs such as Loch Ken.
“With me being the designated driver I never thought of alcohol once during these outings while the others enjoyed a lovely peaceful afternoon taking in the surroundings. We really did look forward to Thursdays every week. The effect these days had on our mental health were beyond words.”
In the last year DGRT members have been involved in transporting a recovery flag around Scotland, taken place in a Recovery Walk in Paisley, visited the Scottish Recovery Consortium in Glasgow and visited the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Eskdalemuir.
They were also recently visited by members of Forth Valley Recovery Group and are planning to visit one of their recovery cafes next month, while Barry organises cold water therapy sessions with experienced wildwater swimmers every Monday.
The groups are supported by the region’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP).
Partnership communities officer Faye Hardy said: “We’re a peer support group who now have six active weekly groups across the region and we also have a weekly online meet which all our members are invited to attend.
“We recently attended an ADP development day with other local organisations and services and worked collaboratively with regard to influencing strategy to look at how support is delivered. This was an excellent networking opportunity and allowed DGRT to use their voice effectively.
“DGRT also offer training and development opportunities to support individuals in recovery to lead self directed lives.”
The group’s weekly meetings are: Monday – cold water therapy; Alternative Tuesdays – Hillview Leisure Centre, Kellohlm and Zoom at 7pm; Wednesdays – The Hub, Friars Vennel, Dumfries, 11am to 1pm; Thursdays – Castle Douglas Town hall, 11am to 1pm; Alternative Thursdays – The Cabin, Kirkconnel, 11.30am to 1.30pm; Alternate Fridays and Saturdays – Cafe Royal, Annan, 11am to 1pm.
To back the sponsored walk, visit www.gofundme.com/f/raise-awareness-stop-the-deaths
