BOURNEMOUTH seafront provided the setting at the weekend for a walk celebrating the courage of addicts in recovery.

The Recovery Walk, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, brought together around 300 people championing the success of those who have received help for their addictions in Dorset.

Following the walk, the 2012 Recovery Lympics were staged on the beach at Boscombe with games, yoga and Tai Chi, backed by live music.

Helen Adams, resettlement manager at Bournemouth-based addiction service StreetScene, said: “The walk was an amazing success; compared to last year double the number of people took part and next year’s event will be even bigger and better.

“The walk is universal; it happens everywhere, including Liverpool, Scotland, America, China and Brighton. It’s about saying: ‘Do you know what? We’ve been labelled for so long as druggies, or no good. But here we are, in society again, paying our bills, with our families back together again’.

“The walk gave us the opportunity to celebrate our recovery and being part of society. Instead of all the negative stuff, people were having a laugh and enjoying life; it was all about fun in recovery.

“We encouraged people to come along because the event could have been the first step in someone’s recovery. Even if just one guy or girl got something out of it, then it has to be a positive thing.”

She added: “It gave us the chance to celebrate that we are dealing with life and we are clean, sober and really proud.”