Contact: Leah Barbour
Mississippi State's Collegiate Recovery Community continues its efforts to encourage understanding and offer support with a free, public discussion led by a tight-knit family formerly of Starkville.
At 7 p.m. March 1 in McCool Hall's Taylor Auditorium, the CRC will present "A Family's Journey of Recovery," featuring Nick Hayes and his parents, Ray and Kathy Hayes.
Nick Hayes, a Starkville native, is 24-years-old and a senior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He has been in recovery for more than 3 years and is an active member of the Texas Tech CRC.
His experiences related to addiction and recovery, as well as how he rebuilt his life are part of his family's story.
"This night is an opportunity for people in Starkville and Mississippi State to learn more about the importance of the Collegiate Recovery Center at Mississippi State and how they can be aware and supportive and encouraging," said Kathy Hayes. "On every campus, there are so many who are suffering the pain of addiction and the challenge of recovery in silence."
Though his sister Sarah will not be part of the program because of her continuing studies at the University of Texas in Austin, the 20-year-old sophomore's journey with her brother during his recovery cannot be underestimated, Kathy Hayes said.
"Healing does include the entire family," she said. "Nick's story of recovery is so dramatic because our family has been willing to go to some really hard places and come out on the other side."
In addition to being former Starkville residents, Ray and Kathy Hayes are MSU alumni and former employees. Among other roles, he served as vice president of finance and administration, and she held leadership positions in alumni and development.
"We're open about the disease of addiction, the miracle of recovery and how it affects the entire family unit," she said. "Our goal is to be open and honest so that others can find the road to recovery."
Visit http://health.msstate.edu/health to learn more about the CRC at MSU.
For more about MSU, see www.msstate.edu.