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Recovery in the News
Mobilian celebrates recovery at massive New York rally
Press Register Correspondent
Alabama Live LLC. Press Register
November 15, 2009
One month after Bill Layfield celebrated his 75th birthday, he celebrated 30 years of sobriety and participated in a national recovery celebration.
Layfield traveled to New York as Alabama’s recovery delegate for a Manhattan rally that was part of A&E’s Recovery Project for people recovering from alcohol and drug addictions.
“I was with 10,000 others. We met at Foley Square on the west side of Brooklyn Bridge by city hall. There were 50 delegates from around the whole country. It was like a pep rally,” Layfield said.
He said the group walked en masse across the bridge where they listened to speakers, including New York’s Gov. David Paterson, and heard live music by Smoky Robinson.
Layfield said the purpose of the rally was “to get the word out that there are many people in recovery, that treatment works and recovery happens. It’s available to those who will seek it.
“We also want to get the message out to fight the stigma of it. Many people don’t ask for help and step forward because they’re ashamed, but addiction is a treatable relapsing brain disease.” John Hartinger, vice president of integrated marketing for the cable channel, said of the second annual recovery rally on Sept. 12.
“The turnout was overwhelming. I was told by several different people that it was the largest gathering ever to celebrate long-term recovery. There were more than 10,000 people from six states who came by bus and train, drove themselves, and came by subway to gather for the day.”
Hartinger said A&E launched the Recovery Project in 2008 “as a way to bring the community together for celebration rallies across the country. There were 90-plus events during month of September. We want to make public the success stories and give people the opportunity to take pride in their recovery.”
As part of this campaign, Hartinger and others selected delegates from each state to participate in the Manhattan recovery rally.
“In general, when we put out the call for delegates and asked people to apply, they had to be in successful long-term recovery, meaning they have not had a drink or used drugs in 10-plus years,” said Hartinger. “We looked for people who are community leaders in recovery who are actively involved in sharing their story and providing service for others. We looked for people who also have a powerful story to share.”
Hartinger said Layfield was chosen because “he had a powerful personal story to tell and he told it very well. He’s been active and involved in promoting treatment and recovery for many years on many different fronts.”
Layfield has participated in organizations such as Alabama Voices for Recovery and Partnership for a Drug-Free America and currently works as a substance abuse counselor.
“I retired some 10 years ago from the business world and started working with the Drug Education Council. It was supposed to be a part-time, retiree-type job. That lasted about three months,” Layfield said.
“God’s been good to me,” he said. “When most people have retired, I have been blessed by God with good health and the ability to keep helping people, to be of service to the community, to enjoy what I do.”
© 2009 Alabama Live LLC.