The Lewis County Drug Court Foundation and Alumni Association on Monday announced it will host its fourth annual “One Step At A Time, Recovery” 5K fun run.
“May is National Drug Court Month,” Lewis County Drug Court graduate Leah Rader told the Chehalis City Council, later adding, “We encourage everybody to join us.”
The fun run will begin at 5:30 p.m. May 15 at Stan Hedwall Park located at 1501 Rice Road in Chehalis. Runners will start at the park’s covered shelter and run on Rice Road before turning back toward the park. Water and sandwiches will be provided.
Rain or shine, runners will be out there. An entry fee of $30 per person is required and includes a fun run T-shirt, though runners are encouraged to register before May 8 to guarantee a T-shirt. Additionally, groups of up to four people can register for $90.
For those interested, there are multiple ways to register.
Registration forms are available and can be turned in at the Lewis County Drug Court office on the second floor of the Law and Justice Center located at 345 W. Main St. in Chehalis. Forms can also be dropped off at the white Lewis County Drug Court drop-box located just outside the Law and Justice Center.
To register by phone, call Lewis County Drug Court Manager Stephanie Miller at 360-880-1060 or Recovery Navigator Troy Westergard at 360-827-5964. Runners may also register the day of the fun run at the park beginning at 4 p.m., although they are not guaranteed a T-shirt.
Lewis County Drug Court was created in 2004 and is a voluntary program for addicts charged with a felony, according to Miller.
The program targets offenders with a poor prognosis for success on their own. It aids them with structure and support using a three-phase recovery program. Drug Court lasts a minimum of 16 months with most participants graduating after 19 to 22 months.
To graduate, a Drug Court participant must have a full-time job and stable housing, complete recommended treatment, be clean for at least six months and in the program for at least 16 months, have a sober mentor and pay any court-ordered fines and restitution stemming from their case, according to Miller. Once a person graduates, their charges are dismissed.
