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BELGRADE — Town residents Karen and Stephen Hardy plan to ride 700 miles around the state this fall to raise awareness about addiction and raise money for two Maine organizations that are related to helping those dealing with addiction.
The couple said that they both have “been personally affected by the devastating effects of addiction.” They plan to donate money raised to the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery, in Augusta, which will use it to support education and training in the use of the lifesaving drug, Narcan, also called Naloxone, the pair said. They will also donate money to the Oxford House. “The need for safe and supportive housing for those in recovery is critical,” they said.
The Hardys said they welcome financial support, but plan to fund their ride, lodging and food on their own. Other fundraising efforts will be ongoing until September with events held at the Wellness Center they run, Mind, Body, Soul Wellness, on Main Street in Belgrade. The ride will begin in Belgrade and will go north as far as Caribou and Presque Isle, Houlton, and will also pass by Mount Katahdin.
In the state of Maine, one person dies daily from a drug overdose, as reported by the CDC. In 2015, it was determined that 144 people every day died of drug overdoses in the country. Those numbers are likely to be higher for 2016, the Hardys said.
The couple has a Facebook page, Cycle for Addiction Awareness, and a GofundMe pages, which have more information on the fundraiser as well as how to donate. “People are invited to like the page, share their stories of recovery and what they want people to know about addiction, and also to ride and support the awareness-raising,” they said.
