Rock’n the Road to Recovery will celebrate what would have been McKenzie Paulson’s 26th birthday and remember others who have been lost to substance use disorders. The walk starts from the Falconer Fire Hall at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. A family friendly birthday celebration follows from noon to 4 p.m., featuring live music, a meal and children’s activities. Submitted photo

In celebration of what would have been McKenzie Paulson’s twenty-sixth birthday and in remembrance of others who have suffered from substance use disorders, Rock’n the Road to Recovery will be held Saturday, Aug. 18.

Same-day registration begins at 10 a.m. at the Falconer Fire Hall, 115 Davis St., Falconer. The two-mile walk starts at 11 a.m.

The recovery and awareness walk takes place rain or shine.

The public is invited to the family friendly birthday celebration following the walk from noon to 4 p.m. at the fire hall.

The afternoon features performances by Take Two, Ken Hardley, and Anthony Flint. There will also be birthday cake, a hot dog or hamburg dinner for $5, a Huffy bike giveaway, 50/50 giveaways, and face, rock and t-shirt painting for children.

Cost for the walk, t-shirt, birthday celebration and one dinner is $25. To register online, sponsor a walker, or make a donation, visit agfmtp.wufoo.com/forms/recovery. Only online registrations prior to Aug. 6 are guaranteed a t-shirt.

Despite her efforts at recovery, McKenzie Paulson passed away from her struggle with drugs at the age of 23. Her mother, Lauri Keller of Falconer, is organizing the event, now in its third year.

Keller said her daughter was a typical All-American girl who, with her good grades, graduated a year early from Falconer High School. McKenzie Paulson enjoyed working with the elderly and those with disabilities and went to Jamestown Community College with plans to go into nursing.

This year the focus of the walk is to applaud the efforts of the volunteers with A Fresh Start and all the agencies and organizations that are assisting those with substance use disorders.

Proceeds benefit two A Fresh Start programs in Jamestown: the Marvin and Dolly Sutton Fresh Start House, a safe and secure home for women in recovery from substance use disorders and their children, and Child Warriors, helping children who have been touched by substance use disorders.

Created in memory of Alex Foulk, A Fresh Start is dedicated to helping people find a fresh start, free from substance use and alcoholism. For those who need to talk but are not sure where to start, there are 5 to 7 p.m. meetings every Wednesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 410 N. Main St., Jamestown.

Other local resources include:

¯ Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council in the Springchorn Building, 501 West Third Street, Suites 3 and 4, 664-3608 in Jamestown, and 51 E. Third St., Suite 2, in Dunkirk, 366-4623.

¯ Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Department in Jamestown (661-8330), Dunkirk (363-3550,)and Mayville (753-4104).

¯ The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, open six days a week in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street, Door 14, in Jamestown, 661-9044, with certified peer specialists and more than two dozen peer support groups.

¯ UPMC Chautauqua Mental Health and Chemical Dependency programs, 664-8641 in the south county and 363-0018 in the north county.