H.E.A.L.: STOP HEROIN, INC.

Our journey began on August 25, 2014 when we lost our son, Michael Fitzwalter to an accidental heroin overdose. At that point unknown to us we became members of a club that no one wants to join and that has far too many members. We felt lost, ashamed and alone. Ashamed because of our vision on what a heroin addict looked like, and that was not our son.
We sat silent for a year and a half when thankfully we saw in the paper that DEA was launching Strategy 360. At that time, we decided to break our silence and try to help erase the stigma. We called the DEA and they spent a couple hours with us pointing us in a direction where we could help. Among those we were introduced to were NCADA and Gee Vigna of Walking for Wellness : Stop Heroin. Walking For Wellness was a Non for Profit started by the Vigna's after losing their daughter to a heroin overdose. They spread so much awareness and helped so many, us included. They inspired us to coordinate a North County Walking For Wellness group. When Walking For Wellness closed we were left with a sense of need to keep spreading awareness in the tradition of Walking for Wellness.
The saying when one door closes another one opens could be no more true. We became familiar with a coalition out of the Parkway School District called Alliance for Healthy Communities. They were interested in organizing Stop Heroin walks. To help fulfill their vision we created H.E.A.L.: Stop Heroin. H.E.A.L. is an acronym for Heroin Education & Awareness League and is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit. We are keeping the walks alive in the tradition of Walking For Wellness. We also set up resource tables at events and share our story.
We have met many amazing people along our journey. Please come and join us to help spread awareness.
Like the lyric in the song, Sounds of Silence, "silence like a cancer grows". Together let's break the silence and erase the stigma.

We are excited to share that we are now officially a prevention coalition registered through Missouri' Department of Mental Health. We are connected with coalitions across the state in Missouri's Prevention Network and our local Prevention Resource Center, PreventEd(formerly NCADA).