Outrunning addiction: Racing for Recovery Halloween Run - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Outrunning addiction: Racing for Recovery Halloween Run

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SYLVANIA, Ohio -

Lourdes University welcomed hundreds of runners dressed in Halloween costumes for this year's Racing for Recovery Halloween Run and Walk.

Todd Crandell started the Racing for Recovery organization after Battling his own drug and alcohol addiction. At his lowest, he was homeless, taking cocaine, heroin and drinking two fifths of whiskey a day. He believes exercise helped him beat addiction.

Crandell was touched by the number of people who turned out to help fight substance abuse.

"I'm overwhelmed. This is the 11th annual Racing for Recovery 5k and we had close to 500 people here again and it is so humbling to see people's lives change through this program."

Crandell has been sober for nearly 20 years and is now a licensed chemical dependency counselor. He wants people to know that there is help available for addiction.

"People need to know that substance abuse can be fixed. And lives can be saved."

Physical activity helped Crandell overcome his addiction. Now he's competed in several Ironman competitions.

"I thought, I used to watch this on TV when I was on cocaine and now I'm doing it. So again, it shows with sobriety, anything is possible. It's not about the Ironman. It's about taking a negative addiction and putting it into a new focus of health."

Kelly Bandfield participated in today's event and credits running with helping her overcome addiction. "That's probably been the biggest impact for me. It keeps me focused on something other than maybe making bad choices."

Racing for Recovery doesn't stop with holding races. The organization offers counseling and support meeting to help addicts overcome addiction. For more information check out their website racingforrecovery.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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