Photo by Wayne Allen | Daily Times

Participants step-off at the start of the Daymar College “Miles for Memories” 5k to benefit SOLACE on Saturday.

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Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

NEW BOSTON —Walkers stepped out into the cold morning air on Saturday to support SOLACE (Surviving Our Loss and Continuing Everyday) at the Daymar College “Miles for Memories” 5k Walk in New Boston.

Money was raised through sponsorships, donations, and registration fees. All of the money collected was donated to SOLACE — a local support and awareness group for the surviving friends and family of those who have lost their lives to drug addiction.

“We heard about SOLACE though the students that enrolled to go to school here. A lot of them have benefited from the work that these ladies have done, and it just seemed like a great partnership at the beginning of the school year to set this off on the right foot and let people know there’s a positive thing going on in our community, it’s not all negative. A lot of people have turned their lives around because of these ladies, and lives have been saved because of these ladies,” said Allison McConnell, of Daymar College.

A large number of the registered participants on Saturday were junior high and high school students she said.

“That’s amazing, because those are the people we wanted to hit,” McConnell said.

Once registered, walkers traveled a path beginning at Daymar on Rhodes Avenue in New Boston, up Ohio Avenue to Stanton Avenue, walk down to West Avenue and then circle back to the Tractor Supply Company parking lot, and then back to Daymar to finish. Because the walk was called “Miles for Memories,” along their route were signs with the names of people from our community who have lost their lives to drug addiction. McConnell said she was stunned to see how many names there were on that list.

“We strive to bring about awareness and prevention, that recovery is possible if you’re struggling with addiction. I just want to thank the community for all the support they’ve given us. We couldn’t do the work we do if it wasn’t for them backing us,” said JoAnna Krohn, of SOLACE.

She said financial support from the community, and from events such as the Daymar 5k, they are able to continue community projects and purchase office equipment that helps them in their mission.

Anyone who missed the walk but would still like to make a donation to SOLACE, it can be dropped off at Daymar College in New Boston, or at the SOLACE office located at 2837 Scioto Trail, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662. Donations can also be mailed to the SOLACE office. For more information about SOLACE, find them online at www.solaceohio.org.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.