ONE STEP AT A TIME –
Sept. 28, 2025 – A man who overcame an addiction to alcohol that spanned two decades said “walking was a great tool” when he initially took strides to become sober.
Jimmy Thistle, who is now a Peer Mentor at Motiv8 Addiction Services, came up with the idea to hold a walking challenge from the east to the west coast of the Isle of Man to raise awareness overcoming addiction.
Mr. Thistle said the event would help those recovering from a dependency to see that “they are not alone” and help them make “human connections” on the journey.
Organised by Motiv8, about 70 people have signed up for the walk along the heritage trail from Douglas to Peel.Mr Thistle said he started drinking as a teen, and through his 20s, and 30s, he “always had a problem with alcohol”.
“Drinking was ruining my life”, he said, “I would lose a job, or a relationship went sour but I never wanted to blame the alcohol.”
