By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
An estimated 100 community members across Crawford County congregated to downtown Bucyrus Saturday morning to take a march against the drug epidemic.
The sixth annual Community Cares March stayed in Bucyrus for consecutive years, this time making the final stop on the march the steps of Bucyrus City Hall where the marchers then took out their frustrations and smashed addiction which was symbolized by a car. Together We Hurt Together We Heal’s Mary Jean Henlsey explained why they chose to smash a car this year.
“We had a young man who has been in recovery for quite a while wanted to donate a car to raise money to attack addiction, so we are going to do that at the end of the march this year, and I am really excited for it,” Hensley said.
Hensley added that everyone should attend the march because addiction affects all of us.
“There are always people who don’t make it that think I don’t need to be here, which is not true, they need to be here because addiction affects all of us,” Hensley said. “But those that need to be here are here, and they are going to bless us and we are going to bless them.”
Walking in his sixth Community Cares March was Bucyrus City Schools Superintendent Kevin Kimmel. Kimmel explained why he comes out year after year.
“This is an important cause to bring drug awareness not only to Bucyrus, but Crawford County,” Kimmel said. “I have marched in it every year to show support not only for me individually to show support, but the support of Bucyrus City Schools in this important war against drugs in our community.”
Linda Baldinger chose to walk in the Community Cares March after drugs hit her family hard. Baldinger explained the message she was trying to send as she walked in the march.
“What affects one of us affects all of us,” Baldinger said. “I just hope we can bring more awareness to the community. Drug addiction is a terrible thing and we come together as a community for strength and strength in our faith that the Lord has everything in control.”
Marching in her first Crawford County Community Cares March, but not her first march against drugs, was Nicole Walmsley. Walsmley, a recovering heroin addict, brought the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative to the state of Ohio and as a result is the Bucyrus Representative for the group.
“It is just nice to see the community get together and try to fight back,” Walmsley said.
Prior to the march, Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser noted that the movement has to come from the communities as the state and federal government weren’t providing any help.
“This is a subsidiary at its finest. We know we aren’t getting any help to help solve the problems that we have of the drug epidemic here. It has got to come from a movement of the people, and this is the most perfect movement of the people. It started with some people who had some serious issues in their family with drugs, and it spread, and that is how it has to be. It has to be, it has to be a movement of a seed that has to blossom, and it continues to blossom. We know it is going to be an uphill fight, and we are going to continue to do it. I just want to be part of it just to (let them) know that the city supports it and to let them know we are with them all the way.”
The march began at the Bucyrus Community Hospital and took its path down Sandusky Avenue to Bucyrus City Hall. Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke spoke to the crowd about the battle against addiction. Joining Koepke was Walmsley.
EMT Corey Wright spoke to the crowd from the front line of the war on the overdose epidemic.
“When I first began as an EMT there would be just a handful of overdoses per year, and we didn’t carry Narcan at all,” Wright said. “Now we see 5-6 overdose patients in a given week, and have 10 doses of Narcan on us at all times.”
Following a few more testimonials, Josh Spears spoke to the crowd on what helped him kick his heroin addiction. After Spears spoke he took the ceremonial first swing at the car that he donated for the march before turning the bat over to others in the crowd.