More than 500 Capetonians from all walks of life gathered at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital to celebrate the walk of recovery.
The tenth annual Recovery Walk in Cape Town on Saturday September 28 offered people living with an addiction or mental illness a space to be open about their battle.
Hospital chief executive officer Warren Ceasar welcomed everyone to the facility, which has been the host of the walk for three consecutive years.
Organising committee member Shireen Prins, also founder and coordinator of Awareness Programmes in Substance Abuse (APISA) based at some Mitchell’s Plain high schools, said participants were able to relax and socialise in a safe space, fly their banners and posters in honour of their road to recovery in Mitchell’s Plain.
Tafelsig High School sponsored their school bus and few vehicles for the elderly to sit in.
Organisations included South African Depression and Anxiety Group, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Grandmother’s Against Poverty and Aids (GAPA), the Shumeez Scott Foundation, Freeway Ministries, The Cedars rehabilitation centres, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Liberty Home Treatment Centre, Life Righting Collective, Decision Affects Destinies (DAD) WARD 81, Akeso Stepping Stones rehabilitation centre, Al-Anon Family Groups, My Recovery Workbook, Lentegeur Psychiatric hospital and Drumba Rhythm for life.
There was also face painting, a puppet show, open mic sessions, crafts, recovery messages written on the walls, singing and dancing; and a special post box exercise whereby a letter could be addressed to anyone including oneself, to be posted by the committee.
