Rain, I don't mind · Shine, the weather's fine...

Rain, I don't mind

Shine, the weather's fine...

On Saturday, I was delighted to join a group representing Renfrewshire at the Recovery Walk Scotland, the flagship event of the Scottish Recovery Consortium. For over a decade, this national event has brought people together to shine a light on recovery from substance use, while breaking down the stigma that continues to surround addiction.

This year’s walk began at Glasgow Green and wound through the city’s heart, covering approximately 3 miles in just over an hour. Despite the mixed weather, there were moments when blue skies broke through, reflecting the hope and resilience that this event so powerfully embodies. The sight of everyone walking together, united in support and understanding, was a reminder of the strength in numbers and the impact of shared purpose.

The walk of course could be seen as representing the journey of recovery and as a sign of community, solidarity, and progress – a chance to show that recovery is not only possible but worth celebrating openly, without fear of judgment.

As we returned to Glasgow Green, the skies opened, and rain began to fall, but the positive spirit of the event remained. The sense of hope, connection, and determination ignored the weather – and a lot of folk took the rain falling as a signal to get up and dance along to the music being blasted from the stage.

Events like this don’t just end when the day is over; they send out ripples of hope and understanding that can inspire long after the last step on the walk was taken. And by the way, the sun came out again a little later…

All the best

Alan