THOMASVILLE- The Georgia Recovers and Community bus tour stopped in Thomasville on Wednesday morning, drawing in city and county officials to proclaim September as National Recovery Month.
The tour is the largest National Recovery Month event in the United States, stopping in 63 communities across Georgia to help end addiction stigma.
Strategic Policy Advisor for the Georgia Council for Recovery Jeff Breedlove opened up the tour by thanking Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp.
“It’s fair to say no governor in the United States has put more money in the budget for peer-led recovery programs, which fund programs like WeCovery, so we thank Gov. Brian Kemp,” Breedlove said.
While the state has put in thousands of dollars to help with recovery, Breedlove explained recovery truly happens in communities.
“It takes a team and each team needs a quarterback,” Breedlove said.
Thomasville’s quarterback is Dan Bailey, Program Manager of Georgia Pines’ WeCovery Peer Support Center.
Bailey is an individual in long-term recovery and thanked the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for including Thomasville on the bus tour.
“Your leadership is making a tangible difference across our state and we are truly honored to be a part of this initiative,” Bailey said. “We are proud to stand here with you and we look forward to continuing this vital and pioneering work together.”
Bailey was joined by nearly 55 people in recovery, including Patti McGavin, who shared her story of overcoming addiction.
“There are 9,000 people across Georgia in recovery, and I’m one of them,” she said. “We are Georgians and live in communities like Thomasville. We worship here, we learn here, we play here, we work here and we are not bad people. We are survivors of a disease killing more people than anything else in America.”
McGavin said people just like her rejoice in proclaiming “recovery is real,” and hopes that people still suffering at the hands of addiction know that they are not alone and people do love and care for them.
Thomas County Board of Commissioners Chair Wiley Grady echoed McGavin’s sentiments before presenting Bailey with a proclamation.
“Recovery is possible,” he said. “Many families have been affected by it and I’m one of them.”
Grady explained his son has been in recovery for five years and the bus tour meant a lot to him and his family.
“I congratulate each and every one of you on your recovery and I tell you to hang in there because it’s going to get better,” he said, before reading the proclamation.
Following Grady’s proclamation, Mayor Pro tempore Terry Scott was invited to read a proclamation on behalf of the City of Thomasville.
Scott also had connections with those in recovery.
“As a pastor, I encounter so many in recovery, who come to my church,” he said. “In fact, a Deacon of mine came through recovery about 3 years ago. There will be some struggles, but get up and brush yourself off and start again.”
Scott then read the National Recovery Month Proclamation, reminding those in recovery that they are never alone, as the City of Thomasville is proud to help them along their journey.
Breedlove thanked Grady and Scott for their support, before inviting the public to sign the bus, as it continues to make stops throughout Georgia, reminding everyone recovery is real.