A trek to bring awareness to the dangers of addiction is once again set to step off in Tamaqua, with a special appearance by an NFL star.

The second annual Safer Streets for Tamaqua's Little Feet Out of the Darkness, Into the Light Candle Light Walk, will be held Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.Meeting time is at 6:30 p.m. at the Tamaqua Bungalow Park on Catawissa Street. The walk will start at 8 p.m., and proceed down Broad Street to the CVS building.Those who did not get a walk shirt may purchase them for $5 at the Bungalow Pool. Bethany E.C. Church will be handing out water to all participants.At the end of the walk in the CVS parking lot, entertainment will be provided by Jake Kulick (Kulick Official), who will perform a variety of songs, including "H," a poem of the struggles of addiction, written by Alex Sienkiewicz, who died of an overdose. Kulick turned the poem into a song.Also, Anthracite Audio donated its services, and will be spinning the tunes all night. Vendor tables will be set up as well.The finale will be the lighting of the wishing lanterns, which will be available for a $5 donation to send a wish to loved ones who were lost to show they will never be forgotten.Special guest is Vance Johnson, former NFL Super Bowl Champion wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, will tell his story about recovery and hope, how substance abuse does not discriminate, that recovery is possible, and how to always keep HOPE.Transportation back to Bungalow Park will be provided courtesy of a donation from Larry Lech Transportation.The free event will offer candles and purple glowsticks for the kids being provided by Safer Streets. The Dog Haus food stand at Bungalow Pool will be open for food purchases.In addition, Jessica Tyler, from Sober Army, and Travis "Featherhawk" Snyder will share their messages of recovery.John and Tammy Sienkiewicz, who lost their daughter Alex, said that last year's event attracted over 350 participants. This year, the goal is 1,000 people."The community support from those affected by substance abuse disorder has been overwhelming and so appreciated," Tammy said. "We all constantly have new ideas to fight this battle."Tammy added, "If we do not come together as a community to combat this disease, we will lose an entire generation. This will take everyone to help solve this epidemic."Funds will go to help with essentials, such as personal hygiene products and clothes for those in every community, not just Tamaqua, that reach out for help going to rehab. Additionally, those who complete rehab and who have reached out for help that want to go directly to a sober living house, they will pay for their first month of rent. Funds will also go toward preventive educational materials and expenses.John said the event is to honor the taken, while bringing greater awareness for the dangers of addiction, which is the disease that it taking lives and destroying our communities."The people in active substance abuse are human beings," John said. "They existed and are loved and missed. They are someone's son, daughter, sister, brother, nephew, niece, friend."He added, "We want the communities to come out and walk for your own reason; remember a loved one passed, walk for hope for a loved one to reach out for help and find recovery, walk to show no more ignoring and turning a blind eye, walk to show recovery is possible, walk to show we are not letting you take our kids any longer. One night to light up the night and take away the shadows, we do not want to lose another soul."Tammy said the group is "seeing a difference in how the public, for the most part, views people in substance abuse addiction.""We will always have those who do not agree," she said. "But one of the biggest attributes we feel our organization has done is to show we, those affected by substance abuse addiction, are not alone, we have nothing to be ashamed of. There is hope for recovery for those in substance abuse addiction; it is a lifetime fight, fighting with their own brain forever, but recovery is possible."For more information, visit

www.saferstreetstamaqua.com, the group's Facebook event page, 2nd Annual Out of the Darkness Into the Light Candlelight Walk, call Tammy at 570-527-9277, John at 570-527-9278, or email

saferstreetstamaqua@gmail.com.