I’m finally back in action after my seven-week holiday (and some work) in the UK, and a recovery period from the jet lag and a bug I picked up on the plane. It’s good to finally be back in action posting on Recovery Voices.
In May last year, I visited and gave talks at ARC Fitness, the inspirational recovery community based in Derry/Londonderry that was founded by Gary Rutherford. Whilst there, I was encouraged to attend the Northern Ireland Recovery Walk in September 2024 and take a holiday in county Donegal. Sadly, I was not able to do that due to a family illness.
However, this year my partner and I travelled to Northern Ireland for a holiday and a visit to ARC Fitness… and coincidentally (?), the Recovery Walk NI was taking place on the Saturday we were there in Derry/Londonderry. And so we attended this amazing event, which was organised by ARC Fitness. We had such a great time at the event! I was very emotional as I walked along through the city along with many others. As I prepare this post, I am welling up inside just thinking about that day.
The best way for me to illustrate what was going on that day is to show some film I took on my iPhone. Rough and ready as it is, I hope it conveys to you the atmosphere on the day. Here are links to five separate short films, the first focusing on the speech given by Gary Rutherford in Ebrington Square before we set off. There follows three films of the actual walk through the city, which ended up back at our start point after we crossed the Peace Bridge.
The last film shows clips from performances by the Encore Contemporary Choir and the rock band Bad Medicine which took place after the actual walk. You can also see members of the AMAZING ARC Fitness team having fun listening to Bad Medicine’s last track. I really enjoyed the two concerts.
Well done ARC Fitness is organising such a fantastic and deeply moving event. I really enjoyed catching up with those I knew from last year, and meeting new members. I miss you guys!
The day after the event, Linda and I travelled on to Donegal where we had such a great time in this beautiful place!
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIj3B8hWDXU
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKeZwpZVqJw
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VabQtVlFCJM
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nys622Df-AM
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPQQTRCa5fU
Watch all films (just under 14 minutes) using the Playlist link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIj3B8hWDXU&list=PLvJZuLUWo_C_VzU7LvVvid11HIXs6wwN_
Gary, thank you for the lovely dinner we had with you and your beautiful family. It was an amazing few days for Linda and I.
