It Takes A Village - Alex Aldridge 5k

Welcome to the 10th annual Alex Aldridge 5k. Alex came out of an abusive home, was placed in foster care, then adopted by a loving family. Alex flourished in his adoptive home, bonding deeply with his new parents and siblings. As Alex grew, he participated in sports and band, and volunteered with Mercer County Teen Court. Alex composed piano pieces and performed them for classmates and family. Adolescence is a confusing time, however, and for Alex, it was a mixture of many conflicting emotions. Alex experienced positive growth, but also began to recover memories of early abuse. Being interracial and part of a tiny minority in school was also difficult. He struggled in his journey of self-discovery. He struggled with self-acceptance. Alex began seeking ways to numb his pain and turned to drugs and alcohol. Alex spent 4 years battling his addictions and trying to climb out of his pit. Eventually, he sought help and benefitted from rehabilitation programming. After Alex successfully completed rehabilitation, he reentered community life, rebuilt positive relationships with family and friends. He worked as a waiter and volunteered at ChildLaw Services, as well as Learning Day Camp. Addictions are tricky, however, and relapse often happens when a person is feeling strong. Alex relapsed and passes away from an overdose on June 28, 2010. Alex left behind a legacy of caring for others. He had a great love of children and a deep desire to help others find their way. Through the work of ChildLaw, Alex's dreams of helping kids can be realized. By helping provide happiness and safety for at-risk kids, his spirit lives on. Join us on March 28 to honor Alex and keep his dreams alive!