Overdose Awareness Walk and Resource Fairs

Aug. 30 used to be a depressing date for Shelton resident Jamie Ellertsen.

That's the birthday of her brother, who overdosed on drugs and died at age 21. Then Ellertsen, who overcame her own drug addictions, discovered eight years ago that Aug. 31 was International Overdose Awareness Day. She messaged Abe Gardner, another recovered addict, about staging an event in Shelton.

"I didn't think anyone would show up," Ellertsen said in an interview with the Journal. About 25 to 30 people did show up and marched together to honor the memory of lives lost to overdose and provide hope to people still struggling.

Both Ellertsen and Gardner will be marching at the Mason County Awareness Walk and Resource Fair on Aug. 29 in Belfair and Aug. 30 in Shelton.

The Belfair event begins Aug. 29 with a resource fair at 3 p.m. at the Timberland Regional Library at 23081 NE state Route 3. Walkers gather at 5:45 p.m. and the walk begins at 6:05 p.m.

The Shelton event Aug. 30 also begins with a resource fair at 3 p.m. at Kneeland Park at 100 Turner Ave. Walkers gather at 5:45 p.m. and the walk begins at 6:05 p.m. The sponsors include Mason County Public Health and Human Services, Be a Better You Counseling and Referral Services and North Mason Fire Authority.

Be a Better You Counseling is Ellertsen's business on Second Street in downtown Shelton. Gardner is the emergency prevention specialist with North Mason Fire Authority.

Ellertsen said she hopes marchers will experience "the remembrance of people ... it's lonely if you're the person overdosing or you know people who are overdosing."

Ellertsen said she started using drugs when she was 12 years old. She dropped out of school in the seventh grade. "I thought it was cool to be in that lifestyle at the time," she said.

When Ellertsen became pregnant at age 17, "I realized I was done ... My daughter saved my life," she said. She's been clean since 2011.

Gardner said he started taking drugs when he was 13. He survived an overdose and was in and out of five inpatient facilities and eight outpatient facilities. He separated from his wife and lived in his car and on the streets, dependent on opioids. "I was dopesick when I wasn't using," he recalled.

Then came the epiphany that he needed to change his life. "Thankfully, my wife never gave up on me," Gardner said. Tuesday was his ninth anniversary of being clean.

The resource fair and marches are an opportunity to give back to the community, Gardener said. "I think the best apology is changed behavior," he said.

Gardner also noted that more public officials have joined in the fairs and the marches, including representatives from the City of Shelton, Mason County and law enforcement.