Last year, I had never heard of Gary Rutherford and ARC Fitness in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Then, Wulf heard about Gary via a mutual friend, talked with him a couple of times, and told me that Gary was going to be our next Recovery Voice. I was sent the film of the Zoom interview… and was blown away by the conversation.
I decided that I had to adjust my UK trip and ensure that I travel to Derry and meet Gary and his colleagues. Next week, I will spend two days in Derry/Londonderry, give a talk and, I am sure, meet incredibly inspiring people. I’ll no doubt learn even more about how we can help people recover from addiction and associated problems.
Today, I am sitting in a hotel room in Burton-on-Trent ready to visit BAC O’Connor and see old friends, and give a talk to people on their journey to recovery. I have just taken a quick look at Facebook and came across Gary’s latest post. And I watched an amazing TEDx talk from Donegal… delivered by Gary.
And just before I link to the film, I should tell you that I have also just discovered that ARC Fitness have become proud winners of the Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards 2024 (see photo above). It’s all happening at ARC!
‘Join us for a groundbreaking TEDx talk that challenges the stigma surrounding addiction and offers a fresh perspective rooted in hope. Gary Rutherford explores the transformative power of reframing addiction as a journey of resilience, growth, and recovery.
Gary Rutherford is a registered Mental Health Nurse professional and addiction therapist. In 2019 he launched ARC Fitness, a Derry / L’Derry based non-profit organisation supporting individuals impacted by addiction and substance use through physical activity, professional support, and community. Gary is also a person in long term recovery from substance abuse, something that drives him to advocate and provide hope for others.
Gary’s unique approach towards supporting individuals get and stay on the road to recovery has been highly commended. Gary’s work has been recognised by the Royal College of Nursing, awarding him ‘RCN Nurse of the Year’ 2022. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.’