KEEP SUPPORTING US

Edges Readers continue to help people like Simon who entered our project a few months ago. we provided him with an opportunity to prepare for his rehabilitation.

He states the following:

Having entered the Reconcile (Detox in the Community) Project on 6th July 1998, I have begun a new stage in my life. Before this date, I was a Heroin Addict of eight years and I had really hit rock bottom!

In November of last year I was 'visited' by some Manchester lads and subsequently enjoyed a few days in Blackburn Royal Infirmary... I had my elbow shattered! I was lucky?! or so the Doctor told me! However, whilst in hospital, I had time to reflect on my life, where I was going and what I was going to do about my situation.

I decided in November that I was going to do something about it but it wasn't until June that I actually "seized the day" and went to ask Father Jim for help on the situation. Father Jim said that there would be a place available within three to four weeks, which was fine by me. A couple of days later I saw Jim driving down the road, whereupon seeing me, he told me that there had been a cancellation and asked if I would be interested in entering the project within the new few days? The answer - YES!!! So I entered the Project on the 6th July and have progressed forward every day.

Being an addict is not real good fun; in fact it is no fun at all. It turns you into a self-destructive machine.... money, score, money, score, money, score ... you don't give a toss about anything or anybody, if you can't respect yourself, how can you expect to gain anybody else's respect? In an addict's life, there is no confidence, no esteem, no self-worth, so how can you expect anything from anybody? You can't! It's that simple. Your life is a lie; addiction turns you into something that in 'normal' life you would strive to avoid.

Since entering the Project I feel as though I'm on my way back to the land of the living!! I have just returned from a week's rest and relaxation in Old Glossop in Derbyshire, I now feel as though I'm alive once again. Before I entered the world of drugs my previous addiction was sport! One way of spending my hours in Glossop was going for walks along the Pennine Way, and surrounding areas and since my time there I have got to rediscover myself mentally and physically; in 6 days I walked 38 miles and ran 3 miles; doesn't seem a lot, does it? But it does make you feel as though your alive and living - a new stage of your life.

In a couple of days time I return to Glossop for a few days and this time I'm going to take my bike with me to conquer the snake pass, a climb of 7 miles altogether at a rate of 1 in 7! Feel up to the challenge?
Then get with the Reconcile Project!!!!