Ninety people took part in the third annual Run for Sobriety in 91原创 on Sunday, Oct. 1, the most since Brookswood resident Josh Baron began holding the event.
A delighted Baron, who has been celebrating the anniversary of his sobriety by holding a fundraiser for the B.C. Division (CMHA), noted it was more than three times the 25 who turned out for the first run in 2021.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just overwhelming,鈥� he told the 91原创 Advance Times. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing.鈥�
Initially, just close friends and family took part in the fundraiser, but Baron has opened it up to all, and this year, expanded the event to include a barbecue and live music for the first time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of my personal sobriety, but also we鈥檙e just trying to get out in the community and make people aware of alcoholism and substance use in young people, and we鈥檙e trying to channel that into healthy ways,鈥� Baron explained.
鈥淲e have people I鈥檓 meeting for the first time [who are] supporting it, so it鈥檚 super exciting,鈥� he enthused.
Before the 10k and 5K runs got underway at Noel Booth Elementary , Baron took a moment to talk about his struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, about supporting the CMHA, and how running was key to his mental health journey.
90 people took part in the the 3rd Annual Run for Sobriety in 91原创's Brookswood neighbourhood on Sunday, a record. The run/walk started out as an anniversary celebration of Josh Baron's sobriety with his closest friends and family back in 2021 to raise funds for mental health.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
鈥淩unning for me has always sort of kept my mind in check and helped me along my journey,鈥� Baron shared.
鈥淭he reason that we鈥檙e all here is because this is my third year sober,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f you asked me, three years ago, if I thought that I would be organizing a race and having all these amazing people out here, I don鈥檛 think I would believe you, because it was pretty dark back then. But, I鈥檝e come out of that, and with the help of my parents and some really good friends, who are all here as well.鈥�
This year, the event raised $4,650, close to double its $2,500 target and more than twice the $2,229 total raised during the first two years.
There will be another run next year, promised Baron, who is enjoying his new, sober life.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great,鈥� he said, 鈥渁 lot easier.鈥�
鈥淓very year gets easier, every day gets easier.鈥�
To learn more, contact runforsobriety@gmail.com.
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