Sober Day Walkathon Scheduled Sunday

Sober Link and other northeast Valley nonprofit groups are taking steps to help residents attain sobriety.

A lot of steps.

The Sober Day Walkathon ’98 will travel Sunday through seven communities in an effort to publicize the need for freedom from chemical dependencies of all types.

Rachel Cosmic founded Sober Link in 1995 to increase awareness of drug prevention and violence.

“What’s important is that people learn about the support system that is out there to help them stay off drugs and alcohol,” Cosmic said.

“It’s hard to stay sober alone.”

To increase awareness in the Valley, Cosmic said the walk will start at three locations, with participants eventually meeting at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

The walk will start at 9 a.m. at the San Fernando Mission, at the south parking lot of the Panorama Mall at Van Nuys and Roscoe boulevards, and at North Hollywood Park at Tujunga and Chandler boulevards.

After the walk is completed, participants will hear speeches on the benefits of police and business leaders working together to limit crime.

On-site registration is $20.

Proceeds from the walk will be used by Sober Link to develop and produce educational programs to help people in recovery.