A Candlelight Vigil for Those Lost to Addiction and Alcoholism
22 May 2009
The 2nd Merseyside candlelight vigil and remembrance event will take place at the Plaza, Metropolitan Cathedral, Mount Pleasant in Liverpool between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Friday 29th May 2009.This event, which is presented by SHARP Liverpool, an addiction treatment centre in Rodney Street, is a time to remember those lost to addiction and alcoholism.
The evening will consist of music, readings, personal testimonies, and a remembrance roll-call.
Jacquie Johnston-Lynch, Head of Service at SHARP Liverpool says, "What we want to achieve by having a vigil, is not only the remembrance of those people that have died through their addiction and alcoholism, but also to remember that these people were human beings, someone's, brother, sister, mother, daughter or son."
"It is also important to recognise that there are many stories of hope. There are individuals who have made changes to their lives and recovered from their addiction. At SHARP Liverpool we provide a day treatment programme which supports people on this journey."
Mona, a graduate of SHARP Liverpool commented, "My life has been devastated by loss, through my own active addiction and also through the loss of my partner through his addiction. I am so grateful to have a place to remember those I have lost and also to acknowledge my own recovery as I am now four years clean and sober. I am also hopeful that, as the local Recovery Community grows, more people have a chance to change, and save, their lives in a way that my partner and so many others did not."
The event is being held as part of National Misuse and Addictions Week.
The vigil is open for anybody to attend. Candles for the Vigil will be provided on site.
You are welcome to attend the remembrance event and if you would like your loved one's name to be included on the remembrance roll-call, please ring 0151 703 0679 or email SHARPlvpl@actiononaddiction.org.uk
Guests are also invited to join the SHARP Liverpool team for refreshments afterwards. These will be served at 10.45pm at SHARP Liverpool, 17 Rodney Street.
Background information about SHARP Liverpool
SHARP (Self Help Addiction Recovery Programme) is an abstinence-based structured day treatment set in a beautiful Georgian town house in Liverpool city centre. It is for those people who need the intensity of structured treatment but, for properly assessed reasons, do not require an in-patient or residential setting.
With a capacity to treat 22 clients, it is accessible to people from all backgrounds across Liverpool and the surrounding area.
Action on Addiction offers a variety of treatment services which are available for men and women across the UK including:
Clouds House - a first stage residential treatment centre for men and women.
Hope House - a second stage residential treatment centre for women only.
SHARP London, SHARP Liverpool and SHARP Bournemouth and Poole which all provide structured day treatment for men and women.
Working Recovery in Bournemouth and Poole which provides skills training to men and women.
Families Plus - working with family members trying to cope with someone who has a substance misuse problem.
Action on Addiction is the only UK charity working across the addiction field in research, prevention, treatment, professional education and family support.