HANCOCK COUNTY — Organizers of the county’s annual Recovery Walk say it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since its organizers decided to raise awareness of community members who were lost to addiction.
On Sept. 21 at Depot Street Park, officials will host the 10th Annual Recovery Walk from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s event is called the “Walk in Love Recovery Walk” with opening ceremonies slated for 8:45 a.m. Family and friends will share stories of loved ones who have passed due to addiction with the actual walk starting at 9:30 a.m.
Linda Ostewig is the director of the Recovery Café of Hancock County and a certified peer recovery coach. She is also the director of The Landing Place, Discovery Cafe and the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House — all places designed to provide continuous help for people looking to get back on their feet following addiction issues.
Ostewig, who noted she looks at everything through faith, has been responsible for spearheading the countywide effort to support families of those who have passed due to addiction. She said it feels good to get to the 10-year anniversary of the walk although she’s not sure how it all happened.
“I was kind of going down the list of everything that has been started from 10 years ago with a couple and everyone was like, ‘God has done so much in the realm of recovery since we started 10 years ago,’” Ostewig said.
That includes creating a support group for parents of loved ones lost, a center where all people can come and be fed, get clothing and have a shower as well as get help through state financial programming. They’ve also opened up a second night to try and help area youth, which includes fun things like instrument lessons.
“I’m just like, ‘How did all of this take place,’” Ostewig said. “It’s been little by little and sometimes it’s been a fight, to be honest, due to the stigma of recovery.”
While Ostewig noted the recovery piece of addiction has come a long way in the county, they’re still hearing about addiction deaths every week.
During the Recovery Walk, three families will celebrate the lives of three individuals with county ties who lost their battles with drug addiction.
“While we’ve done a lot, we’re always still thinking what can we do. People just keep dying from these issues,” Ostewig said. “The only thing we can do is get up every day and try to make a difference, and if we can save one person or help one family member or give out that encouragement or hope, then we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing.”
The three families will pay tribute to Breana Marie Rogers, 33, who died Friday, October 7, 2022 in Georgia; Dusty Bradley Isaacs, Jr., 34, of Morristown, who passed away October 13, 2023; and Vera Jeanne Spencer, 30, a former Eastern Hancock student who passed away in Indianapolis, March 4, 2024.
“We were helping Breana for a while, but she left and went back into the lifestyle of drugs and was shot and killed,” Ostewig said. “She was shot three times in the back being in the realm of drugs and trafficking.”
Ostewig said that while it is heartbreaking when people die so young, she and other county officials are dedicated to continuing the fight against addiction and building even more support for recovery.
“We’re just getting started,” Ostewig said. “There are thousands of people living in recovery, and all we’ve got to do is help save the day, so we want to celebrate that and honor those who didn’t make it.”
Ostewig will also be handing out two awards — one to Keely Butrum for being an advocate for mental health and substance abuse, and the other to The Landing volunteers Laura and Jeff Lindsey for all the work they’ve done through the years supporting programming and the walk.
