By Amanda Barber
Supporters of the recovery community will illuminate Charleston’s Westside with hope and camaraderie at Glow Run 4 Recovery 5K on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For its sixth year, West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residences (WVARR) will host the event at Magic Island Park to include a 5K race, dance party, foam slip and slide, and other family-friendly activities.
Founded in 2018, WVARR works to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and ensure people have access to safe, high-quality recovery housing. Jennie Hill, former Assistant Director of WVARR, had a vision: to create an event that would not only bring people together but would celebrate recovery vibrantly and inclusively.
Autumn McCraw, the Recovery Housing Program Coordinator for WVARR, first got involved with WVARR by volunteering for Glow Run. Autumn says the event was designed to show people that sobriety is fun. The event has attracted over 500 participants annually, including more than 300 registered runners.
“The first year was like literally just an event to get everybody together, and then it just started absolutely growing beyond our wildest dreams,” Autumn says.
In addition to the 5K, there will be a DJ playing jams, glow dance party, foam slip and slide, Kids’ Fun Run obstacle course, new bubble slide, and a new all-ages costume contest! Individuals in recovery can participate in a pre-event art contest for the official Glow Run T-shirt design.
“Every single year, the T-shirts that are printed off are designed by people in recovery,” Autumn says. “So we put a call out for all people to participate, and we have an art contest, and the winner gets their art on the T-shirt. So, that is like a really cool thing too that we do to kind of, you know, get people involved.”
People in recovery will also share what WVARR calls “Stories of Hope” about their journey to sobriety. Recovery advocates and key planners of the Glow Run will receive awards for their dedication.
“Recovery Point Charleston has always been absolutely one of our biggest assets every year,” Autumn says. The women serve as a volunteer base for the event, working the registration booth, directing traffic, helping with the Kids’ Fun Run, and more.
Not only is Glow Run a rewarding volunteer opportunity for the recovery community and its supporters, it also provides individuals in recovery with a fun way to incorporate fitness into sobriety. Kanawha Valley native Frank Latimer has been sober since Aug. 6, 2016, and enjoys using exercise as a tool to maintain a balanced lifestyle and wellness.
“Fitness has become a form of meditation in many ways and helps me to clear my mind, release good chemicals in a healthy way, and to stay fit,” he says. “Sometimes it helps meet new people who are doing positive things as well. I enjoy running, playing sports, and working out when my schedule allows me to.”
Frank has attended three Glow Run celebrations and has twice run in the 5K. At last year’s race, he placed first amongst registered participants in recovery and first in his age group. Frank gets especially excited about bringing his children to play and be involved.
“I always enjoy it, as do the kids,” Frank says. “The foam! The dancing! It’s a blast.”
At the 5K finish line, spectators can “spray” runners’ UV-reactive T-shirts with powder packs of paint and use glow-in-the-dark face paint to light up the crowd.
Autumn encourages anyone to participate, volunteer, or set up a resource table at the event. She further highlights the importance of Glow Run, noting that its goal of reducing stigma is important within the Westside community where the event has always been held.
“Part of the event’s goal is to reduce stigma and show what recovery looks like,” Autumn says. “ … We want to bring hope and community and community building to that side of Charleston that has been so heavily stigmatized over the years,”
To learn more about how to get involved in the event, email Autumn McCraw at autumn@wvarr.org. For more information on WVARR and its list of certified recovery residences, visit wvarr.org.
