4-30-15 hundreds attend fdl heroin summit

Anthony Alvarado and Doug Darby say their story of recovery is hope for other heroin addicts who don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.  The pair formed the group Rise Together and brought their message of hope and survival to Fond du Lac yesterday…speaking to high school juniors and seniors Wednesday afternoon and at a heroin summit Wednesday night at the High School Performing Arts Center.  “Let’s rise together as a community, let’s get out there and combat this,”  Darby said.  “We’ve got to stop looking to just one certain group, county officials that are going to fix this, schools that are going to fix this, parents that should fix this.  Its going to take an entire community to get up and say you know what  maybe its not just happening to my family but I’m a part of this community, so its affecting me.”   Alvarado and Darby both say they will be recovering addicts the rest of their lives, but as the years go by the pain of their heroin history and addiction lessens.  Bridget Henschel’s daughter Amalia died from a heroin overdose three years ago.  Henschel told the crowd the key to tackling the heroin epidemic is through education and treatment. Other speakers included Fond du Lac police chief Bill Lamb, assistant fire chief, Todd Janquardt and district attorney Eric Toney.  The event was sponsored by the Fond du lac Elks Club and Project Blake.