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| Stomping Out the Stigma ~ One Mile At a Time |
Do you recognize this guy? If you've been around Mandala any time at all, most likely you do! But for those who don't know, this is Tim Roberto and once you meet him, you will not soon forget him. Tim is a charasmatic, personable and soulful guy with a huge heart. Once you begin a conversation with him you are guarenteed to walk away with a bit more than you arrived with. Tim embarked on an incredible journey that was born out of a moment with God in a private walk that led to months of training and all culminating in a 20 mile walk from Boynton Beach, FL to Deerfield Beach, FL, to raise awareness in 'Stomping Out the Stigma' that comes with both addiction and mental illness and raising proceeds for a wonderful organization: 1 Brother 1 Sister, (which provides training and resources to First Responders in the areas of addiction and mental health). I am priveleged to work with Tim and to have been given the opportunity to sit down with him and get the story of how this call came to be... (Question:) So Tim, what happend that led you to accomplish this goal and to raise money and awareness for Addiction and Mental Health?
(Tim) It began one day while I was on a walk with me and God. I was coming up on my 15th Anniversary from active addiction. I wanted to do something that would matter and comemorate this and God told me, "Take it back to where you got sober", and for me, that was in Deerfield.
(Question:) Wow ~ 15 years in recovery is awesome! What led you to make that decision?
(Tim) I had been in active addiction for 33 years prior to that. I'd say my pain finally outgrew the fear in my life. Thank God for the pain!
(Question:) After you had this experience with God, did you begin planning this event
right away after that?
(Tim) No. I learned long ago to not just jump when ideas come, but to wait and give it time ~ so that is what I did. I had been jogging some time later and and saw how many miles I had run and about then another thought came to me, (I know from God), that said, "Tim, I love you ~ you have time to bring awareness." and then the words "First Responders" came to me. But it still wasn't clear and I wasn't trying to hurry.
(Question:) So what happened that made it all come together for you?
(Tim) About a week later I was at the Beachcomer at a funraiser dinner for First Responders being hosted by Karyn Hurley, who is the Co-Founder of 'One Brother One Sister' and who lost her own brother, (a Firefighter and Veteran), due to addiction and suicide. I realized as I listened to her, that THIS is who I was to do this for ~ still gives me chills how God works. But I STILL didn't take action on it just yet.
(Question:) Did you go talk to her about your thoughts at that event?
(Tim) Actually, no. I was still waiting on direction. I didn't know Karyn and didn't feel it was time to approach her. About another week later I was in Port St. Lucie for the opening of a detox center and saw her again there. I felt this was the sign and so I approached her and explained everything that had happened leading up to this moment.
(Question:) That is so crazy that she was there. So what happened? How did she respond to what you shared with her?
(Tim) She cried and so did I! There was another person at that event, a friend of mine named Deena, (who is a therapist), and without hesitation she said, "I'm doing the food! Me and my sister." I said, "I don't know how many people could end up coming." To which she just replied, "Doesn't matter ~ We are cooking!"
(Question:) What was it like putting this event all together?
(Tim) It all all really just came together very easily. I got several speakers that included a Trauma Therapist; Recovering First Responder, a Pastor and the Family member of a First Responder with addiction. They did a tremendous job! We had over 50 people come to this first event and raised over $6000.00!
(Question:) What was training like? Had you ever done anything like this before?
(Tim) I had never done anything like this before and training was pretty intense. I trained from January until April. About 2 weeks prior to the event it was suggested that I give my feet a break and stop training until event time. About a week prior I did that - however that didn't work out to well because my feet ended up pretty blistered.
(Question:) What were the people like who came and participated in the walk?
(Tim) They were all different people. Some were like me and this was all new to them. Some traveled to come do this walk and were really good at it.
(Question:) Is this part of how you keep your own recovery strong?
(Tim) Part of the recipe for remaining in recovery rests in service to others for sure.
(Question:) Do you plan on this being a one time event, or do you plan on making it annual?
(Tim) Oh, I FOR SURE plan on this happening again next year...however I'm thinking of something more like a 5K, so that more people will come join in this life changing cause!
