I have been spending time since last Wednesday night in Manchester staying with family, after my six-day trip to Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland where I spent a good deal of time with ARC Fitness, an inspiring recovery initiative based in a gym.
I had not previously heard about ARC until my Recovery Voices colleague Wulf interviewed its Founder Gary Rutherford in early 2024. I was so impressed by what I saw and heard that I decided to visit ARC in May 2024.. [You can read Part 2 describing my visit here.] I had an amazing time at ARC and was really impressed with all that I saw in relation to the team helping people recover from addiction.
I visited again last year, this time with my partner Linda, and timed our visit so that we could attend the annual Northern Ireland Recovery Walk in Derry. That was great fun! You can find links to the films I made of the Walk in my blog post focused on the event.
These visits, and my continued following of the ‘happenings’ at ARC Fitness, have really pulled on my heart strings over time. I have also been impressed by Gary’s TEDx talk Reframing Addiction: Shifting the Lens Towards Hope. I eventually decided that I would like to write a book about this exciting recovery initiative. I talked to Gary about this desire and arranged to visit the team and conduct interviews from 24-30th September this year. In addition, I attended this year’s Recovery Walk NI in Derry, which I again filmed.
Recovery Walk NI 2026, Introductions
Recovery Walk Northern Ireland 2026
Recovery Walk NI 2026 on the Peace Bridge
I had carried out a number of preliminary interviews on Zoom before I left Australia in order for me to gain initial insights into the stories of ARC team members and the development of ARC Fitness. I then conducted a dozen more detailed interviews with these and other team members (and a person who had been attending the Family Support Group) whilst I was in Derry. I’ll conduct further interviews on Zoom once I return to Australia, write these stories up, and develop the content into a book a book. An exciting challenge! Before then, I’ll be visiting family and friends here in UK.
On Friday evening, I attended a specially arranged (by Jay Kiernan) Family Support Group social evening in which three women gave inspiring and emotional Shares. I was deeply touched by all that I heard, as well as by the loving feelings that the group had towards Jay, which is the Family Support Coordinator.
I had such a wonderful time in Derry, such a special place. I really enjoyed my 30+ minute walk from my hotel, which was located by the city walls, down and along the River Foyle to ARC Fitness. Thanks for putting me up in that hotel Gary and Laura! And thank you for the two wonderful dinners we had together, Gary. And thanks to Sinead Carlin for driving me out on Sunday to Buncrana via Inch Island, and on to the hillside fort Grianán of Aileach, and back via Creggan and the Bogside. On another day, Sinead took me to the Museum of Free Derry where I learnt more about The Troubles and Bloody Sunday.
The only downside of my trip was the nasty cough I had developed earlier which left me wearing a mask for some interviews, and using Zoom in one case for an interview, and experiencing a very painful chest.
My thanks to Sharon Barr, Maggs Campbell, Sinead Carlin, Laura Curran, Sinead Lynch, Marty Hagan, Justine Higgins, Jay Kiernan, Davey Mcannaney, Edele Moore, Gary Rutherford, Sarah Rutherford, Warren Villa, and Martin Ward for your interviews. I love what you are doing!
