NEWS

Fremont looks to 'Kick The Habit' with community gathering

Jon Stinchcomb
Reporter

FREMONT - In order to help those struggling with addiction to finally “kick the habit,” the Sandusky County community came together Saturday to show just what recovery looks like, being active, having fun sober and sharing inspiration.

The community came together for Kick The Habit,  a day-long event that featured kickball and basketball tournaments, food, music and education on drug addiction and recovery, at Roger Young Park on Saturday.

Mayor Danny Sanchez and Richie Webber hosted Kick The Habit, a day-long event that featured kickball and basketball tournaments, food, music and, most importantly, education and awareness of drug addiction. The event was held at Roger Young Park in Fremont all afternoon and into the early evening Saturday.

Richie Webber, a recovering heroin addict now sober for nearly two years, is the founder of Fight for Recover, an organization that seeks to bring addicts together to make positive changes in the community and raise awareness for sober living activities.

“No one had to be told to come here, we’re all here to be together to fight for recovery,” Sanchez said, mentioning the various public officials and first responders that attended the event and showed their support. “It’s all fun, but we’re out here for a purpose. My door has always been open to those going through recovery.”

Members of Whirlpool’s “Spirit Team” helped organize the event, including Nick Fedor and Felicia Manuel, whose original idea it was for Kick The Habit.

Community members participate in a kickball tournament at Kick The Habit, an event to raise awareness of heroin addiction and recovery.

“I grew up in a drug-addicted household,” Manuel said. “One of the reasons I wanted to put this together is so that we can bridge the gap between the community and the family, so everyone is on the same page and there can be healing.”

“We’re going to put up a fight and we’re going to put an end to the addition in our community,” Fedor said.

Webber and his mother shared their stories of dealing with addiction, whether affecting yourself directly or someone you love. Others shared their experiences as well.

Addictions rip families apart

Roger Hart, founder and director of Micah House, said having grown up in the 1970s, he experimented with drugs and alcohol himself and he believes that may led him to the ministry, but it is different now.

“Nothing back in that time can compare to what things are like nowadays,” Hart said. “I’ve never seen it like this, it’s just crazy. Heroin is the kind of thing that grabs hold of people and they do things that they could never believe that they would have ever done.”

“I’ve been doing this 13 years now and it’s the hardest addiction I’ve ever seen to overcome,” Hart said.

jstinchcom@gannett.com

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Mayor Danny Sanchez participates in a kickball tournament at Kick The Habit, an event to raise awareness of heroin addiction and recovery.