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Walking to battle addiction

Sidney event May 5 held to aid regional addictions support groups
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Participants in last year’s Look Beyond Addiction awareness walk. This year’s walk takes place May 5 and begins at the Mary Winspear Centre.

Once again this May, Christine Barnhart will hit the streets of Sidney to spread awareness about addiction.

Barnhart, who founded the organization Look Beyond Addiction, is hoping to make a difference in the lives of others though the annual walk that takes place on the Saanich Peninsula.

Each year, the walk raises money that Barnhart then donates to charitable organizations like the Kool Aid Society. This year’s walk will raise money for Foundation House, part of the Vancouver Island Addiction Recovery Society.

“The walk is really designed to unite all different types of support groups,” Barnhardt said, adding that the energy at the walks is always positive.

“People always leave after the walk with a really good feeling.”

Barnhardt began her journey into helping those with addictions after losing her first husband to a cocaine overdose in 2007.

Years later, she would lose her second husband to alcohol poisoning.

“My vision is to use this walk to make a difference for those who suffer from addiction,” she said.

The walk will take place Sunday, May 5 and will start at the Mary Winspear Centre. Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the walk will begin at noon. For more information, visit www.lookbeyondaddiction.com.