On Thursday, September 17, 2026, the Brainerd Lakes community will gather once again at
Kiwanis Park for the 5th Annual Walk for Recovery, a celebration hosted by the BLADE
Coalition (Brainerd Lakes Area Drug Education) in honor of Recovery Month.
The event brings together professionals who serve in the substance use disorder field,
individuals with lived experience, and the family members and loved ones who walk alongside
them. For one evening, the community sets aside stigma to celebrate the strength it takes to
break the chains of addiction.
Kara Terry, Director of Crow Wing County Community Services, reflected on the meaning
behind this year’s theme. “Together with BLADE, we walk in strength, hope and solidarity. Our
slogan this year ‘We <3 You’ is more than words – it’s a promise that we care, we see you and
we’re here beside you on every step of the recovery journey,” Terry said. The message also
honors those who have been lost to overdose and acknowledges the grief carried by families
and friends. Attendees will be invited to add to the messages of hope that were started during
the fair.
Registration and check-in open at 4:30 pm, and the first 100 guests through the gate will
receive a free event t-shirt. From there, guests can enjoy an afternoon of yard games and the
always-popular dunk tank, featuring local law enforcement as good-natured targets, along with
mocktails crafted by Just Juice, offering a refreshing, substance-free way to beat the heat.
Domino’s Pizza will serve dinner at 4:30 and 5:00 pm, with meal tickets available at the
registration table, and Pepsi returns for its ongoing tradition of donating beverages for the
event, support the coalition is deeply grateful for.
The evening’s program includes performances and testimonies from the MNTC choir, a Mille
Lacs Drum Circle performance, remarks from a Crow Wing County commissioner, music from
DJ Keith Binggeli, and door prizes throughout the night. At 6:00 pm, participants will set out on
the walk itself, a quiet, powerful moment to remember loved ones lost to addiction and to
recognize the opportunity to live fully for them.
Seventeen local organizations have signed on to host resource tables, offering education,
support services, and connection to guests seeking information about recovery, prevention,
and treatment, with more expected to join before the event. Their presence reflects the depth
of partnership across the Brainerd Lakes Area in addressing substance use.
This year’s event would not be possible without generous sponsorship from Medica, CLC
Human Services Programs, Essentia Health, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center. The BLADE
Coalition is grateful for their continued investment in a healthier, more connected community.
September is also National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate progress, recognize the
people who make recovery possible, and invite everyone to help build recovery-ready
communities. Recovery does not happen alone; it happens together, and when communities
connect, people thrive. Addiction thrives in isolation, but recovery grows through connection,
and a stronger community is built one relationship at a time.
At the heart of this event is a message worth repeating: recovery is not meant to happen in
isolation. Leaning on community, showing up, being seen, and staying connected, is one of the
most protective forces against relapse and one of the clearest paths toward healing. The
BLADE Coalition’s mission is built on that same idea: uniting families and communities around
education so that the mistakes of the past don’t have to repeat themselves. There is hope, and
people do recover.
Whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, grieving a loss to addiction, or
simply want to stand with your neighbors, this event is for you, and for everyone you know.
Come for the food, the fun, and the fellowship. Come to meet someone new and share a story
of hope and a message of strength.
Organizations interested in getting involved, whether through financial sponsorship,
volunteering, or hosting a resource table, are encouraged to reach out to Talia Brodhead at
Rain or shine, the BLADE Coalition will be at Kiwanis Park on September 17th, waiting to
welcome you. Don’t miss it.
Written by: Talia Brodhead
