Event Description
This is a 5k run/walk in honor of Rebecca Taylor. Rebecca died on May 29, 2020 at just 26 years old from a Fentanyl overdose. Today we run in her remembrance and to give hope to others who are battling the same disease that Becca did for so many years. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIH), in 2016 there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths and opioids were involved in 46,802 of those deaths (in the United States). A staggering 70% of all opioid overdoses end in death. According to the CDC in 2019, Indiana had 1,699 overdose deaths.
Rebecca took a pill she thought was Percocet, however, it was straight Fentanyl. According to the CDC and DEA, Fentanyl is being mixed with heroin or other counter-fit prescription pills and being sold unknowingly to the user. Fentanyl is an epidemic and if Becca's story can save ONE life, then we as her friends and family can find comfort in this information.
If you knew Becca, you knew what it meant to have a friend, someone (when sober) you could always count on. She had her highs and lows, but man she was such a good hearted person. She was the best Granddaughter and actively helped take care of our sick grandmother dying of Alzheimer's disease. She was so helpful as an Aunt. She made the drive to Goshen and Lafayette whenever she could find the time to help me out with the kids. Owen and Oliver miss her greatly. I know she loved them even in her lowest lows. My mom and dad (Shawn and Preston Taylor) did EVERYTHING they could to help Becca with her fight against addiction, but ultimately addiction won. In our minds, we know GOD won, he took Becca Home and ended her suffering.
No one wants to be an addict. There are a lot of men, women, and teenagers who are addicts without the same support Becca had, and their chances for recovery without support are slim. That is why I wanted to create a fundraiser in honor of Becca to help others with their road to recovery. Again, if Becca's story can give one person a fighting chance at recovery and a happy, sober life, then we know we did our work here on Earth.
I would like to donate money to a foundation that helps make recovery possible. We have decided to send all donations to The Serenity House in Auburn, IN (Rebecca's hometown).
Below is a link for more information about The Serenity House.
**Information regarding statistics mentioned above are available at these websites:
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/2019.html
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/fentanyl-encounters/index.html#_edn2
Thank you for your time and your consideration in donating in Rebecca's honor.
Sincerely,
Rachel Voelkel, forever Becca's BIG sister.
