The smiles couldn't have been any bigger at the Penticton Speedway on June 25, as Discovery House hit the track.
Guys from all stages of the recovery at the program came up to go for several rounds of high-speed go-karting fun.
For many of them, it was the most fun they had had in years, and from the size of the smiles on their faces it was something they'd be thinking about for weeks to come.
"They've got some dinky little go-karts in West Kelowna and I did those as a kid, but I don't think I've done anything remotely close to this for probably 20 years," said Luke Kellerman, who's currently in the program's second stage housing and four-and-a-half months sober.
Colin just completed the 90-day first stage program at Discovery House that day, and the trip up to the Speedway was also a bit of a way to celebrate.
The go-karting and other activities like it aren't simply about having a good time, they're also important to the recovery process itself.
"It's learning about having fun and recovery and doing stuff without using and abusing substances," said Colin. "Doing stuff like this with other like-minded people is really important for me. I've been through other treatment centers and just going to all the meetings doesn't come across as that much fun."
As much as the activities help with recovery process directly, they're also a needed break and relief to look forward to.
"The program is pretty arduous and it takes a lot of your time," said Kellerman. "It's 13 hour days in the house, in first stage anyways, so being able to get out and do stuff like this just kind of breaks it up a little bit. I've created some of the best friendships I've ever had being in the house, and to get out here with some of them and have a good time, it's huge."
The go-karts are a regular attraction at the Speedway, usually set up during the middle of the week when there aren't any other major events happening, but this time crews had to get it all set up in between regular races one weekend and the week of preparation for the upcoming monster trucks show.
The karts zip across the track as fast as any car, and more than a few times there was trouble navigating a corner by the drivers on the course. Even when those crashes ended in a bit of a pile-up, there wasn't any hard feelings to be seen between the guys.
Taking the group up to the Speedway was Gord Portman, a mentor at Discovery House and himself an alumni of the program. The idea of bringing them up to the Speedway started after he gave it a try himself while he was looking for options and ideas.
"I've taken them dragon boating, I've taken them rock climbing, taken them golfing, you name the sport, we've done it, but go-karting is like just a whole different level," said Portman. "Some of these guys have had it hard, some have been homeless and on the streets for years, and stuck in addiction, and now they're on the road to recovery, and this helps, and it helps keep them as a group all together."
Getting the group up to the Speedway was weeks in planning and coordinating with Avion Motorsports, who run the track and who Portman thanked for their support.
Portman sets up at the Penticton Farmers and Community Markets every Saturday to raise funds for the activities.
Discovery House itself also funds for the programs and for the beds, of which it currently has 25 across the multiple stages of recovery, and donations can be made through the program's website at discoveryhouserecovery.com.
A major ongoing fundraiser for the program is the Chopper of Hope, which will be raffled off later in the year. Portman is currently escorting the custom bike to various events out across the community selling tickets. Tickets are also available online.
People interested in giving the go-karts a try can find more information at pentictonspeedway.com/karting.
