Shame might try and stop you from telling your story. It might tell you your story isn’t worth telling because the disease won, but listen closely: Your story can and will save lives. Owning and sharing your experience is the bravest way to fight the disease. The life of your loved one mattered, and their death has the potential to matter even more. Help to make his or her story — your story — matter.

The Bird Walk for Recovery is put together by family and friends of Seneca ‘Bird’ Gibbs. Seneca was the youngest of four children, he was a very talented sketch artist who loved his family and fishing, and you could not find a more loyal friend.

Seneca grew into a big guy, 6’4”, and his heart was even bigger. Seneca was funny and serious, he was humble, and he was kind. He was my Baby Bird and earned that nickname when he broke his arm as a little boy. One of our family friends said, “The baby bird has broken his wing,” and the name stuck.  

Like Seneca, no one grows up and says, “I want to be an addict.” Addiction is a chronic disease, much like cancer. And Seneca struggled with his addictive illness for about 10 years and passed away on August 22, 2015.  His experience with treatment, recovery, and, yes, even relapse inspires this walk.

After Seneca’s funeral service, I learned that many people I knew had addiction issues among their family and friends.  I wondered why we hadn’t reached out to one another and IF EVERYONE HAD THE SAME SECRET.

The purpose of the Bird Walk is to speak up and help do away with the stigma and shame of addiction. To bring everyone out of the shadows so that individuals and families can get the help they need.

The disease of addiction is real! Recovery is real, also!    

People would have you believe that I buried my son. I DID NOT. When I laid him in the ground, I PLANTED A SEED, and from that seed grew this Recovery movement, the 5K Bird Walk for Recovery.