Mind Over Miles: MiSide Mental Health Awareness Walk

Meet CJ, he is a recovering alcoholic. From as early as he can remember, he was surrounded by drinking and drugs. His father was in and out of his childhood, and when he was around, he was drunk and violent.

CJ started drinking with all his buddies in high school, and the alcohol led to some poor choices, he found himself facing a 3-year prison sentence at just 19 years old.

He did his time, but when he was released, he went right back to his old habits. This violated his probation and landed him in and out of prison for 7 more years.

He has 3 kids, two teenage boys and one 7-year-old daughter. They are his world.

In November of 2024, he found himself facing more prison time for resisting arrest while drunk. It was right then that he knew he needed help.

He did not want to lose out on more time with his children. He refused to be like his own father and miss their childhood.

That’s when he found MiSide Health. Dylan, his peer recovery coach, believed in him from the moment they met. He showed up to court with CJ and vouched for him and his recovery. “That’s something I never thought I would hear someone do.”

All of the support he has received has changed his outlook on life. “I have learned to take life one day at a time, and I know every day that passes is another opportunity for me to be better.”

Now, CJ is well over a year into his sobriety journey, and he is just getting started.

It is support like yours that make stories like CJ’s possible. Without you, CJ wouldn’t have his life back and his kids wouldn’t have their dad back.

Thank you for being there when he needed you most.