Are you ready for a fun scavenger hunt?

A local nonprofit, Drug Free Moore County, had to switch gears when COVID-19 caused the cancellation of public gatherings and events. That was the case with their biggest fundraiser, the Run For Recovery 5K.

In its place will be a county-wide scavenger hunt called the Moore County Recovery Challenge. Over three weeks beginning, September 28 and running through October 16, this fun event will help raise awareness for drug and alcohol addiction programs in Moore County.    

Karen Wicker, executive director of Drug Free Moore County, had to reinvent fundraising during the pandemic. No easy task. Her and a friend got together and brainstormed. “Why don’t we put signs all over the county?” said Wicker. “Okay, let’s make it educational and something fun.” 

That is how the idea of a scavenger hunt got started.

“It is a socially distanced way of getting people engaged and raising awareness of the obstacles that stand in the way of recovery. The proceeds will support drug prevention, treatment and recovery work in Moore County,” said Wicker.

Signs, 65 in all, have started appearing around the county, each with a trivia question on the back. All you have to do to play the game is register, follow the clues on the Drug Free Moore County Facebook page, explore Moore County to find the signs and complete a score sheet. The purple signs have been placed at businesses and organizations. Purple is the awareness color for opioid addiction.

The person to find all the signs and answers the questions correctly wins.

To get in on the game, signup online at TicketMeSandHills.com. The cost is $20 for individuals and $40 for families of three or more. 

Drug Free Moore County hopes to use funds raised from the Moore Recovery Challenge to establish a Community Recovery Center. The center would help provide those in recovery and their families with support through group, individual and family programs and medicated assisted treatment options.

The mission of Drug Free Moore County is to be a positive influence in preventing and combating substance use disorder in Moore County by increasing awareness, disseminating information and garnering community support towards healthy choices and recovery.

For more information about the Moore County Recovery Challenge and Drug Free Moore County, visit DrugFreeMoore.org or call 910-947-1902.

Feature photo: Karen Wicker, executive director of Drug Free Moore County, places a sign for the Moore Recovery Challenge. Purple signs like this are being placed around the county as part of a scavenger hunt fundraiser. 

Sandhills_Sentinel~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter John Patota.

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