ADA, Okla. – Prevention and recovery will be the focus Saturday, Sept. 12, as the annual “Step Out of the Darkness” prayer march returns to ECU and the Ada community.

This event is sponsored by the Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction and Recovery at East Central University (ECU) and the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition and is free and open to the public.

“Step Out of the Darkness” is an annual prayer march that begins at the Pontotoc County Courthouse and continues down Main Street toward ECU’s Centennial Plaza. The intention of the event is to shed light on truths about drug addiction and dependency.

Participants are encouraged to park near the ECU Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center (HBFFAC) between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Buses will be shuttled to the Pontotoc County Courthouse Plaza during this time. Only strollers less than 11x11x44 are allowed on the bus.

Register before 10:30 a.m. and receive a free t-shirt. The “Step Out of the Darkness” march will then begin and conclude when participants reach the HBFFAC. Stops will be made along the march for prayer. No motorized vehicles will be allowed to participate.

A prevention and recovery rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. inside the HBFFAC, followed by games, giveaways, a talent contest and food provided by local partners.

Booths providing information about substance abuse, prevention, treatment and recovery will be available. The winner of the talent contest will be announced, followed by a grand prize drawing that will take place at 1:30 p.m. Those who registered and participated in the prayer march are eligible for the grand prize.

For more information on the event, contact Holli Witherington, executive director of the Brandon Whitten Institute, at 580-559-5815 or by email at holtwit@ecok.edu.

-ECU-