Police officers from Derry City & Strabane ditched their work boots to complete a 30km charity walk to raise money for a local non-profit organisation in the city supporting people recovering from addiction and substance misuse.
Ten Ballyarnett Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) officers raised £1,072 for Addiction Recovery Coaching (ARC Fitness) by completing the scenic walk along the North Coast on 3 May.
Ballyarnett NPT Sergeant Pete Johnston said: "ARC works to change the lives of those struggling with addiction, and the organisation has helped so many people we have made referrals to.
“As police officers, we see all too often the harm caused from the sale, supply and use of illicit drugs – the harm on the person themselves and also on their family and community.
"Tackling this issue is a priority for police in Derry City & Strabane, however, a criminal justice approach alone does not have all the answers, which is why working with partners and other organisations to break the cycle of offending is so important."
In total, Ballyarnett officers have raised close to £4,000 for ARC Fitness over the years. This has included lacing up their trainers for the Belfast Marathon, and taking part in other charity coastal walks. In 2022, they secured match funding, along with Derry & Strabane Policing and Safety Community Partnership (PCSP), for a pilot programme with ARC Fitness to enable officers to make referrals to them.
Sergeant Johnston added: "We hope the funds raised will make a real and lasting difference to those in need of help. The work of ARC Fitness is life-changing, and we are delighted to be able to help out, and I want to thank everyone who supported us for this great cause."
‘Massively life-changing’
Gary Rutherford, founder of ARC Fitness, says ARC helps those people impacted by substance use and addiction enter recovery and improve their mental and physical wellbeing though physical activity, professional support, education and re-connection with the community.
"We are absolutely delighted to, yet again, be supported by the Ballyarnett team. Any of the monies donated goes directly into the delivery of frontline services for people who are struggling with substance use and addiction and their families," explained Gary.
“It means a lot, as a community-based organisation, and it will go a long way to helping those in need. It goes towards the cost of putting someone through an addiction recovery programme, or specific one-to-one addiction recovery work and family support work, so it will directly support an individual from crisis right through to hope.
“It’s massively life-changing. We are really privileged to watch people come from a place of crisis and feeling hopeless, to coming out the other side, getting back into employment, into education, rebuilding families and relationships. It's a really beautiful thing to watch.
“Addiction is a societal problem, but when you help someone who struggling with addiction enter recovery, the ripple effects of that to the wider circle, benefits everyone.”