Action on Addiction has been selected as one of eight charities to participate in the inaugural King's Cup regatta, which has been created to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes that are close to the hearts of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The regatta will take place at Cowes on Friday 9 August 2019 ahead of Cowes Week and will see Their Royal Highnesses skipper two of the eight boats in the race.
Action on Addiction provides life-saving treatment to sufferers of all forms of addiction, as well as supporting families affected by this life-stopping condition. At today's launch on The Cutty Sark, their Royal Highnesses took part in a simulated race and met several of Action on Addiction's beneficiaries. They included: Kirstin Drake who has been sober for four years and received treatment at Clouds House; Paul Bullard who recovered from an alcohol addiction and achieved a foundation degree in Addictions Counselling at Action on Addiction's Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies; and Marc Ellin who is 15 months sober following treatment in the charity's Essex community recovery centre.
Speaking at today's launch, Graham Beech, Action on Addiction's Chief Executive, said:
"The regatta promises to be a wonderful sporting occasion and we are thrilled to be taking part in this exciting event. We are also delighted that addiction is being highlighted at a time when so many people are finding it more and more difficult to get the treatment they need. The regatta will be instrumental in raising awareness of addiction and enabling more people to access the help and support that they need."
"Anyone who has come into contact with addiction will know that it exerts a powerful grip on the individual concerned and everyone around them. However, people can choose to recover from addiction, and as Kirstin, Paul and Marc have shown, given the right forms of treatment, help and support, they can be successful in both establishing and maintaining a life in recovery."