Discover Hope 517 hopes to get people walking

If social media and getting active is your jam then Discover Hope 517 wants to make it known that it will be hosting its inaugural Community Prayer Recovery Walk.

The new event will begin with a Facebook live prayer at 3 p.m. May 17 and end with people posting videos or photos on social media.

An idea shared between executive director Robbie Robinson and communication and marketing director Cody Daugherty is to have a recovery walk as a method of outreach to make people aware of what Discover Hope offers and help assist those on their walk through addiction recovery.

"When COVID-19 came along, we realized this is something that the community just needs," Daugherty said.

With people being isolated from one another and living with the emotions such as fear and worry, Daugherty said they wanted to get people out and enjoying Newton while also doing so safely while social distancing.

"We wanted to be able to get people out in the open, out to get some sunlight to get some exercise just to kind of see that they can function through this," Daugherty said.

To adhere to social distancing rules, the walk will begin with a Facebook live prayer over the event. Afterwards, people are able to walk wherever they want, whether it's on a bike trail or around the neighborhood. Everyone is invited to join.

"It is really trying to connect people back to the heart of our community, connect people back to each other. Take a break from all the craziness that has been going on," Robinson said.

While people are out and about on their walks, they are encouraged to take photos or videos of their walks and post them on social media with the hashtag #CPRWalk2020. Afterwards, Discover Hope 517 will create a compilation of all the videos and put it online.

"We think it is going to be good. I have no doubt that is just going to be awesome," Daugherty said.

While the first walk is being performed under different circumstances, Robinson said it most likely will not be the last.

"It is going to be every year we want to do this," Robinson said.

Robinson and Daugherty are also looking for sponsors for the event or sponsors for people participating. The event is free to participate in with shirts available for purchase for $25, whether by stopping in or calling Discover Hope.

"This is our first one. It's a little different but that's OK," Robinson said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com