PEOPLE across Ayrshire who have lived through addiction have shared their remarkable stories at a very special awards ceremony.
Harbour Ayrshire, formed just a year ago, celebrated some of their biggest success stories at their first Harbour Hero Awards, held in the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick.
Established by people who have lived through addiction, including founder Clive Kennedy, Harbour Ayrshire has set up eight highly successful voluntary-led peer support groups throughout the county, including the family support group ‘New Beginnings’.
Now they are pushing for Ayrshire to get its own residential rehabilitation unit.
Harbour’s project manager, Eddie Gorman, told those attending the ceremony: “I’ve never been to the Oscars, but I bet they can’t contain the energy within this room tonight.
“Everyone who has collected one of these awards could have been one of the statistics. But they have recreated their lives.
“I don’t take credit for these people’s recovery. If I take the credit I need to take responsibility for those who didn’t make it.
“I came into recovery after 30 years of addiction – 20 of them behind bars. Addiction is a storm and I got battered and beaten by it.
“I finally started working at the age of 49. I spent some time working with the police drug unit – it was the first time I have had an interview with the police when my reply wasn’t ‘no comment’.
“When we started Harbour, the office had a laptop and a desk. Now look at us.”
Eddie said revealed he finally kicked his addictions using a programme known as 12 Step, adding: “Harbour has given me the opportunity to make amends to my community.”
Stefanie Grey, who won the Inspirational Female award, revealed the harrowing story of her own descent into addiction.
She said: “It started when I was 17. I used street Valium and then, aged 23, heroin.
“I couldn’t stop taking drugs and lost custody of my kids. I wasn’t allowed to see them.
“Vicky and Eddie from Harbour came to see me in September last year. I started going to the Thrive support group.
"I was still on methadone and asked Vicky to be my sponsor.
"On January 17 I took my last dose of methadone. That’s when I went through the 12 Step programme.
“I then got accepted to be a trainee addiction worker.
“Harbour has been my safety net. And two weeks ago I was granted overnight contact with my daughter.
“For the first time in three years, I got to stay with my daughter yesterday, after six months clean and sober. It’s thanks to Harbour – they have been here for me.”
Chris Seddon, winner of the 'inspirational male' prize, told the audience: “I met Eddie at a 12 Step programme and I liked the way he talked about recovery.
"I got through 90 days but just didn’t take it seriously enough. I returned to a worse place than I had been in before.
“The night my daughter was born, I looked at her and cried with joy. I swore to her I wouldn’t let all this ruin her life.
“Then, at home, I cried into a massive pile of cocaine.”
He added: “I pushed away my family and kids and ended up in situations I didn’t want to be in.
“When Eddie and Clive appeared at my door one day, I was broken. I was absolutely broken, and it had been five days since I had eaten.
“They told me to get down to the chip shop and he would leave a meal for me behind the counter. It took me four hours to eat it.
“I came back and threw myself into helping people with Harbour. And helping other people is helping me too.”
Harbour’s founder Clive Kennedy told the audience: “I am super proud of those two [Stefanie and Chris]. I have been privileged to be a part of their journey.
“It has been four years since I came into recovery. Most of the people who helped me are here tonight, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“I wanted to help others. The gift is in the giving. And tonight I want to thank the amazing volunteers we have got here. I am really proud of what we have.
“Now we want a residential rehab here in Ayrshire. And I’m convinced we will get it in the next couple of years.”
He paid tribute to those who had helped him make such a success of Harbour,
“I have to thank Big Ed, my mentor and best friend," Clive continued.
"He picks the most challenging people to work with - the ones the others wouldn’t touch.
“Vicky Borland and Stacey McCall then came on board and they are amazing examples. Huge thanks to both of you.
“And I wouldn’t be here without my wife Antonia. I love you with all my heart.”
Clive then summed up one of Harbour’s key themes by urging everyone in the room to give the person next to them a hug.
“In Harbour, we do hugs, not drugs,” he added.
Harbour’s groups have supported more than 300 different people over the past year.
Their Buddies have supported 21 people into Rehab, their community support team have moved 151 families, and the Helpline Team, at Harbour's base in Ayr, have received 60 calls in a couple of months.
As befits a group formed along the Ayrshire coast to provide a safe harbour for those struggling with addiction, the awards had a nautical theme.
The main winners were:
Rowing the Extra Mile - MOT Girvan.
Busiest Lifeboat - MOT Irvine.
Mainsail Award - Thrive.
All Hands On Deck - MOT Ayr.
Calming Seas - WB4W.
Clear Horizons - MOT Kilmarnock.
Making Waves - EmpowerHer.
Quayside Award - New Beginnings.
Ship's Telegraph - Helpline.
Shipmates Award - Harbour Buddies.
Precious Cargo - Community Support Vehicle
Engineer award (For work done below decks): Kris Fearon.
Deckhand award (for an all rounder): Brendan McGivern.
Inspirational Female: Stefanie Grey.
Inspirational Male: Chris Sedden.
Female volunteer of the year: Alyson Martin.
Male volunteer of the year: Paul Geer.
Congratulations to all the winners - and in particular those who chose to share their stories with the audience.
Harbour's office is staffed from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday. If they can help you, or you know someone you think could benefit from Harbour's support, call them on 01292 623016.
The same number can also be used to contact Harbour's out-of-hours helpline, available from 5pm to 10pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
To find out more about Harbour Ayrshire and its work and services, see harbourayrshire.co.uk.
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