June Event Dedicated To Guilford Woman Who Died of Drug Issues

GUILFORD, CT -Addiction Recovery Resources, Inc. is gearing up to host the 5th Annual Martine’s Wake Up sober event on Friday, June 14.

Founder Betsy Jehan organizes the gathering each year to sponsor treatment services for those struggling with substance use disorder in New England. The namesake event is inspired by her daughter, Martine, who lost her battle with addiction in late 2013 at age 26.

“Substance abuse affects the entire family, not just the person struggling, and we lived in the shadows of it for so long,” Jehan said. “I can’t help but wonder if we could have gotten more help by breaking the stigma of silence. That’s why we do this; to break the cycle of shame.”

The family-friendly, sober evening will include a pizza truck, live music, and a raffle, with all proceeds benefiting addiction recovery services. It will also feature the Today I Matter poster project, a show-stopping wall of photos and biographies of loved ones lost to substance abuse that further puts a face to an often nameless narrative.

With deaths due to the opioid crisis steadily increasing, Jehan wants everyone affected by substance abuse to find either refuge at the event, or a starting point to recovery.

“We look forward to welcoming anyone looking to make a change. Whether you struggle or are a relative of someone struggling, a medical professional, provide recovery services, or just want to support, we’re happy to have you join us,” Jehan said.

ETickets are on sale now, with sponsorships and raffle donation opportunities for businesses available until June 1. Visit www.martineswakeup.org to purchase tickets, donate, and learn more.