S2E5: The Final Walk: Celebrating 10 Years of Impact with AlabamaS2E5: The Final Walk: Celebrating 10 Years of Impact with Alabama
APC Recovery Cafe
Nicole and board member Alabama Cole reflect on ten years of the End Addiction Walk, highlighting its mix of remembrance, resources, and celebration. They share why this anniversary event will be the last and how APC aims to finish strong while opening a new chapter in community recovery support.
35:07•2 Apr 2026
The Last End Addiction Walk: Ten Years of Recovery, Community and Change
Episode Overview
- The End Addiction Walk marks its 10th year as both a celebration of recovery and a memorial for those lost to substance use.
- APC focuses on four goals for the event: celebrating recovery, honouring losses, reducing strain on staff, and connecting people to resources.
- This year includes HIV and Hep C screenings, Narcan training, fentanyl test strips, grief and family support, peer support rows, and free haircuts for people in early recovery.
- A sobriety circle recognises people with anywhere from 12 hours to 35 years sober, offering hope that long-term recovery is possible.
- APC shares that this will be the final End Addiction Walk, framing it as a chance to finish strong and move into a new chapter of community events.
“The fact that we had a 10-year run on an event is, I mean, it gives me the goosebumps. And it's time for something different. So this will be the last walk.”
Curious about how others handle their sobriety journey and still make space for joy, grief, and a good mocktail? This APC Recovery Cafe episode zooms in on the End Addiction Walk’s 10th anniversary – and its grand finale. Host Nicole hands the mic to board member and radio personality Alabama Cole to flip the usual format.
Together, they chat through how a simple idea to “take to the streets and let Birmingham know that help was available” grew into a big annual gathering drawing up to 3,000 people.
It’s part memorial, part health fair, part family fun day – or as Nicole jokes, “it’s almost kind of like a block party for recovery.” You’ll hear them talk about the four big aims for this year’s walk: celebrating people in recovery, honouring those lost to substance use, reducing pressure on APC’s small but “mighty” team, and connecting every kind of attendee – sober, sober-ish, or sober-curious – with real, practical resources.
They highlight on-site HIV and Hep C screenings, Narcan and fentanyl test strip distribution, grief and family support groups, peer support rows, and even free haircuts from a recovery housing group to boost confidence for people in early recovery. There’s a strong focus on removing barriers, with transport support for treatment centres, free entry without a T‑shirt, and plenty of space for families and kids to feel welcome.
The most emotional moments centre on the purple flags for overdose deaths, the angel wing display for those being honoured, and the sobriety circle where people celebrate anything from 12 hours to 35 years sober. As Nicole puts it, “The fact that we had a 10-year run on an event is, I mean, it gives me the goosebumps.
And it's time for something different.” If you’re looking for connection, remembrance, or just proof that recovery can feel like community rather than punishment, this conversation might be exactly what you need today.
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