The inaugural No Shame November walk on Nov. 12 in House Springs drew a good-sized crowd, especially considering that most of those who live in the metro region woke up that morning to the season’s first snowfall, organizers said.
That chilly weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the 50 or so people who turned out for the 1-mile walk at the Northwest Jefferson County Sports Complex, 4900 Byrnesville Road.
The walk was designed to support those suffering from substance abuse and to show people dealing with those issues that there is no shame in seeking treatment.
“No Shame November is all about bringing people together from all the metro counties in support of those with substance abuse or alcohol issues,” said Megan Dyer, social media and email marketing coordinator for Sona Lake Recovery, the health and wellness facility that sponsored the event and specializes in treatment for substance abuse. “There are a lot of people who struggle and don’t reach out due to fear of shame. Because this disease is so deadly when left untreated, we want people to know that they can reach out with no shame, and that there is always hope.”
The event ran from 1-2 p.m. and included participants of all ages.
The walk also served as a fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Ken Reitz Foundation, named in honor of the late St. Louis Cardinals baseball player. The Foundation seeks to aid those who both need and want treatment but do not have the financial means to make that possible.
Dyer said that an estimated $2,000 was raised at the walk, with some of the proceeds coming from T-shirt sales and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets for a St. Louis Blues gamed and an Eagles concert also were raffled off.
“We had a great turnout despite the treacherous cold,” Dyer said. “They braved the weather and just had a good time hanging out. We hope to do this again next year. We’ll just plan for better weather.”