Local group holds march in support of people in addiction recovery [Video]

International Recovery Day is just around the corner, and one local group marked the event with a walk for wellness.

On Saturday, at least 100 people hiked Mount Royal Park in support of a family member, a friend or for themselves.

“I’m seven and a half years clean and sober. I’m from Ottawa, Gatineau, so I came down to support,” a participant said.

Kim Bellas leads the local group Sober is the New Cool, which supports people all over the world. In fact, groups in 30 countries walked for the cause on Saturday.  

“Why should anybody have to apologize for finding a healthy life filled with wellness?” Bellas asked.

Bellas recounted that it all started because she wanted to help her son, Matthew Boyd.

“When you’re younger you try things and I made that mistake and there were consequences to it,” Boyd said.

When he was a teen, Boyd said …