Shawano holds its second recovery walk

Dozens of people braved the rainy weather May 6 to walk in celebration of those who have been through or are going through recovery after being addicted to drugs and alcohol.

They also stood in solidarity as local officials and guest speakers talked about the struggle that addicts have of breaking the cycle, but it’s always possible when someone is ready to change. The Greater Shawano Area Recovery Celebration and Awareness Walk event is one that has taken months of preparing and planning with the help of Leadership Shawano County, according to Becky Edgren, Shawano County Drug Court coordinator.

“We had a huge group that made this event happen,” Edgren said.

Addiction affects all people in all walks of life, and Dennis Kenote, a U.S. Navy veteran from the Menominee tribe, personified it as he gave a blessing at the event, telling the crowd that he is a recovering alcoholic.

“I’ve been sober now for 33 years,” Kenote said.

Shawano County Sheriff George Lenzner pointed out that the problem of addiction is not limited to the people who were present in Franklin Park for the walk. It affects everyone at some point in their lives, whether they become an addict or have a friend or family member who is struggling with addiction.

“Everybody knows somebody that’s addicted or struggling with addiction,” Lenzner said. “You either have a family member, a friend or a co-worker. That’s what this event is all about. It’s showing them that the resources are here to help.”

Lenzner announced that plans are coming closer to reality for a women’s recovery house in Shawano.

“Who would have thought it came this soon?” Lenzner said.

Drug court programs are helping the community. Mayor Bruce Milavitz noted that there are 1.5 million people who have helped through drug court, and it helps government save about $6,000 per person helped.

“It’s interesting how we call come out for different reasons,” Milavitz said prior to reading a proclamation designating May as Recovery Month. “It’s just amazing how well and how successful this has become.”

Anthony Alvarado, one of the founders of Rise Together, an Appleton nonprofit dedicated to fighting substance abuse, talked about his experiences and how he fought his addiction for 15 years. He and his now-fiance, Nadine Machkovech, had been traveling the country since 2013 talking to high schools and middle schools but had to stop when COVID-19 shut everything down.

“I’m so glad to be back at a recovery event,” Alvarado said. “We wanted to come to the community and spread a message of hope. When I first got started, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was tired of losing friends and family members, and I almost lost my own life.”

Alvarado pointed out that everyone’s path to recovery is different. What works for one alcoholic or drug user isn’t the key to saving another, he said.

“Each and every one of us has a story to tell, and I think it’s important that we all realize today that we’re all part of the solution,” Alvarado said.

Machkovech, who has been in recovery herself for 10 years and is the executive director for Rise Together, pointed out that it’s important for everybody to be part of the conversation about addiction and recovery, and no one should be ashamed to speak their truth.

“It’s your story. You can’t mess it up,” Machkovech said.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com