Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND – Next Wednesday, Oct. 13, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and motivational speaker Court McGee will be coming to Worland to share his story of addiction and recovery.
McGee, through The McGee Project, travels the country sharing his story. According to the McGee Project website, “since 2015, The McGee Project has been on a mission to educate and inform, as well as save, young people from the disease of addiction. The McGee Project works to provide life-saving education to high school and university students regarding the disease of addiction.”
The public is encouraged to attend the free presentation from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Worland Middle School Auditorium.
According to Cloud Peak Counseling’ Center Substance Abuse Coordinator Wendy Wiecki, the idea to bring McGee to Worland to speak was born after the Substance Abuse Team from Cloud Peak Counseling attended a conference in Casper.
“Court McGee was the opening speaker for the conference. He shared his story and shared how he started the McGee Project,” Wiecki said. “When we were at the conference, [Worland Police Chief Gabe Elliott] was also there, as was Karina Rice from Crisis Prevention and Response Center. We talked during one of the breaks how we would love to get him to come to Worland. We talked about working to have that happen, and Chief Elliott mentioned how we could also include the Washakie Prevention Coalition. We scheduled a meeting and discussed various ideas about to make it happen and then started the process.”
In addition to work on a community presentation the organizations also began working with Worland Middle School Principal Ryan Clark to host an event for the students.
The presentation Wednesday morning at the middle school is for middle school students and staff only.
Wiecki said that the organizing agencies — Cloud Peak Counseling Center, the Worland Police Department, the Crisis Prevention and Response Center and the Washakie Prevention Coalition — all contributed to the events next week, but additional funding was needed.
She said the Substance Abuse Team at Cloud Peak Counseling Center mailed out about 130 letters to every business and church in Washakie County they could think of to ask for sponsorship of the event.
“We had 21 responses and were able to get the necessary funding. Without the sponsorship, the event would not have been possible. We are extremely grateful to everyone who helped make this event happen,” Wiecki said.According to mcgeeproject.org, McGee had an opioid addiction that had started after being prescribed painkillers for an injury he received while wrestling. This was the beginning of his struggle with an addiction to heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. In 2005, McGee was declared clinically brain dead for eight minutes following an overdose. Although he was resuscitated, he had to learn how to talk and walk again.
Wiecki said, “We think it is important for people to hear his story so they can be inspired to know that recovery is possible, from someone who is relatable, who has been through it. He’s someone who understands the battle of addiction and the hope that a life of recovery brings. He understands the struggle, the importance of support and healthy connection in recovery, and the importance of increasing awareness. When it comes to substance abuse, drug addiction awareness is extremely important. With drug addiction, there is always mental health issues. Both feed off of each other which is why drug addiction awareness is crucial. It allows us to look at the whole picture.
“We also think it is an important message to get out there as Court McGee’s addiction started in his youth when he was prescribed painkillers for an injury. With this being such a common theme, we are dedicated to increasing awareness about this,” said Wiecki. “Statistics show that every day more than 2,000 kids use a prescription medicine to get high for the first time, and that 90% of addicts in long-term recovery started in their teenage years. So his message to youth is extremely important.”
According to Wiecki, McGee also has a message for family members who have an addict in the family. He shares how his parents helped him without enabling him, which is “extremely important for an addict in recovery.”
Wiecki said people can expect to hear a “very inspiring message at the event. He is very personable and engaging. He will share his story, provide a sparring presentation, give some time for questions, and be available for autographs after the presentation.”
There will also be information booths from Cloud Peak Counseling, CPRC and Washakie Prevention Coalition at the community evening event.