The Herren Project is an association founded by former NBA player Chris Herren. Chris Herren is an addict who found sobriety 8 years ago and has since dedicated his life to helping others find a way out. This foundation helps addicts in their first steps to recovery, which is honestly a battle within itself. Being a resource and a stepping stone for these individuals is downright heroic and admiral. This man and his team are doing the work and helping addicts and their families get the help they all deserve and need. THP not only supplies resources for addicts but they are reaching out to communities and high-risk children and teens to help educate them on healthy lifestyles and how to handle the pressures of life. They are changing the way the world views addiction, because the reality is anyone can be an addict.
This past weekend I participated in the historical Falmouth Road Race as a part of The Herren Project team. This team was made up of some of the strongest individuals I have had the privilege to meet, and not just because they can run 7 miles. Whether they were addicts, people they know were addicts or they just wanted to be a part of such a powerful movement they were all amazing. Addiction is a disease. It is not a choice. It affects your body, mind and soul and to break free of that blackness is a miracle. The Herren Project is a part of that miracle. As an addict himself, Chris Herren understands the importance of his movement. He has a support system that is working wonders, and the THP Runs alone is making it happen. My team raised over $45,000 to help addicts find help. It is such an astounding foundation to dedicate their lives to helping others.
The negative stigma that comes with addiction is definitely understandable; movies and TV shows growing up portrayed drug addicts as dirty, unlively people. You grow up under the influence that drug addicts are scary. What they didn’t teach us was those people were our friends we played sports with in middle school. They are our ex boyfriends/girlfriends from high school. They are our cousins, our fathers, our sisters, who have exhausted all of their resources and their only survival is to hustle on the streets. The biggest thing I hear is that this is a choice. Well, looking at it from a realistic point of view, yes it is a choice to initially try drugs but why did that choice take place? Was there a reason why I chose to do drugs over finish my degree? Was there a reason I chose to give all my money to some guy I didn’t know in hopes he would come back with poison? Was there a reason I turned against my family for something that made me heartless? Was there a reason I gave up every friendship I valued for whatever pills I could get my hands on? I don’t know why I chose to do drugs, I don’t know why I continued to choose it over and over and over again. I don’t know why I chose to waste my capabilities and my future for one more time. The hardest thing to understand is why? Everyone will ask it and everyone will never get an answer. At least not one they want to hear. I didn’t know what I was doing until it was over, I thought I had it all under control that at any time if I really wanted I could stop. I was 100% sure that I was no way in hell an addict, until I was forced to face myself. I was lucky, I broke free of my addiction faster than most. I learned that I was not okay, mentally or emotionally and I needed help, so I instilled my faith in the hands of people who were watching over me. I utilized my support system to keep myself clear of bad decisions. But ironically what truly helped me was that I started dating another addict, and at first he was my outlet when I felt that no one understood how I was feeling, especially the guilt that was tearing me apart. Having that sort of support was so important to me because as much as my family and friends wanted to understand me, they didn’t. And then when he relapsed, I became obsessed with his addiction over my own. And oddly as it sounds, that was a huge part of what saved me. I felt that if I could show him how strong I was and if I could stay clean, then I would eventually be able to help him do the same. I didn’t. But that need to be strong for someone else is what kept me going during those hard times of self doubt, and I haven't used in over 5 years because of that. Like I said, I am lucky.
But it’s people like Chris Herren who are taking their experience and their understanding and utilizing it to make a difference. Being able to say I have been through hell and back and that I am standing here today to tell you that there is hope, is powerful. Being able to tell someone who is hurting that you have been in their shoes and you know what they are feeling makes all the difference. There are people who are working day and night to save your life. There are people who know that this is not who you are, and that if you fight, it will help shape you into the strongest version of yourself. Because to me, it’s the people who have faced real tragedy who have dealt with the ugliest truth that understand how powerful they truly are. It’s the people who overcome hell and don’t give up that have so much more to offer. Those people bring you back to reality. They help you see that you're capable of pushing yourself to every limit because you deserve greatness, no matter who you are or where you came from. The Herren Project is working magic to bring resources and information to people who are struggling with addiction. They are giving people the opportunity to change and battle one of the biggest battles of their lives. I feel honored to have been apart of such a powerful team. And I feel honored to have this opportunity to spread the word about The Herren Project and all the wonders it is doing for such a dark and scary disease.
