Why We Show Up: Shatterproof Staff Share What the Walk Means to Them
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Every person arrives at the Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction with a different story.
Some walk to celebrate recovery. Some honor someone they have lost. Others come to support a loved one, or challenge stigma by showing those impacted by addiction they’re not alone. No matter what brings them, they become part of a community committed to changing how addiction is treated and talked about.
That community includes Shatterproof staff members who support the Walk in many different ways from helping participants fundraise and coordinating volunteers to walking alongside family and friends.
We asked four staff members what the Walk means to them, what they hope participants experience and what they would say to someone considering joining us this year.
How are you involved in the Walk to End Addiction?
Chad Williams, Director of Provider Relations for Treatment Atlas:
I attend the New York City Walk every year with my family. I also encourage my extended family throughout the tri-state area to attend with me.
Gab Tuggle, Director of Volunteer Engagement:
I have the privilege of recruiting and supporting the incredible volunteers who make our Walks possible. Throughout the year, I connect people with meaningful volunteer opportunities. On Walk Day, I welcome volunteers, help them settle into their roles, support them throughout the event, and celebrate the impact they make on our participants and communities.
Mary Carabella, Walk Coordinator:
I help participants navigate our website, coach them as they fundraise and, most importantly, listen.
Niki Caliguire, Director of Fundraising Program:
I have the immense privilege of overseeing the Walk to End Addiction campaign. I partner with corporate sponsors and teams, community-based organizations, participants and team captains daily to ensure every has what they need to show up on Walk Day ready to experience everything the event has to offer.
What motivates you to be part of the Walk?
For Chad, the Walk is connected to both recovery and hope.
“I have family members who broke the hold addiction had on their lives and ultimately flourished with an infusion of hope, love and support,” he said. “I have seen both sides, and recovery is beautiful.”
Chad also walks for a family member who has not yet found his pathway to recovery. "My wife and I look forward to his recovery and the beauty he brings to the world,” he said.
Gab draws inspiration from the volunteers she meets throughout the Walk season.
“They show up on some of the hardest days of their lives and in some of their most hopeful moments,” she said. “I’ve met people who have lost someone and want to turn their grief into action, people in recovery who want to help someone else keep going, and people who don’t know how to help someone they love but know they need to do something.”
Those volunteers share their stories, share educational resources, and offer support because they want to make a difference.
“Their courage, compassion and commitment inspire me every day,” Gab said.
Like so many, Niki’s motivation is also personal.
“I am motivated by the loss of my father-in-law November 2025 to addiction-related disease. While I know addiction doesn't define his life, it often felt that way—he graduated from rehab three days before my wedding and spent the entirety of the time I knew him being sick from injury and illness that were a direct result of his alcohol use. I am motivated to walk in his memory to ensure no other family endures the same experience, especially knowing addiction stole my daughter's ability to know her Papa.
What does the Walk mean to you personally?
Chad grew up in Newark, New Jersey, during a time when parts of his community were deeply affected by addiction.
“I was blessed to have the right circumstances and community support around me to help me navigate the same pitfalls that consumed many of my family members and friends,” he said. “My work at Shatterproof and my support for the Walk are demonstrations of my gratitude and a way to pay that support forward to people directly or indirectly affected by addiction.”
For Gab, the Walk demonstrates what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose.
“At my first Shatterproof Walks, I was blown away by the passion, energy and heart that volunteers, participants and supporters brought to each event,” she said. She saw people setting up, cheering walkers along the route, creating spaces to honor loved ones and celebrating recovery milestones. “Every person played a role in something bigger than themselves,” Gab said. “To me, the Walk is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose, hope and compassion.”
For Mary, the meaning of the Walk can be summed up in one word: community.
This year will be her first time experiencing a Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction in person. She’s looking forward to meeting participants and seeing firsthand how Shatterproof can continue improving the experience.
“I hope people leave with full hearts,” she said.
What is the Walk like for someone attending for the first time?
There is no single “right” reason to attend.
Gab has met people celebrating two months in recovery, families honoring loved ones lost to overdose, students who initially signed up for service hours and stayed because they wanted to learn more, and people who simply care about someone else’s well-being.
“No matter your connection to substance use or recovery, you’ll find a welcoming community united by hope, compassion and a desire to create change,” she said.
Chad describes the experience simply: “You may have felt alone before the Walk, but afterward, you will feel powerful.”
Niki, too, describes it as empowering and welcoming.
“It's both a celebration of recovery and a container for grief, wrapped up in one event. The respect everyone brings to Walk Day—knowing how hard showing up can be, no matter your connection—is something that humbles me year over year. It's a chance to be in community with folks who get it, snag a hug when it feels heavy, and otherwise demonstrate that we are stronger together.”
What do you wish more people understood about addiction?
For Chad, the message is one of hope: “Recovery is possible for everyone.”
Gab hopes more people understand that substance use disorder can affect anyone.
“It impacts people from every background, community and walk of life,” she said. “We often don’t know what someone may be carrying or experiencing. Every story reminds me of the importance of leading with empathy, reducing stigma and creating spaces where people feel seen and supported.”
Mary wants people to understand that it is okay to talk about addiction.
“The more we talk about it, the less taboo it becomes,” she said.
Creating space for honest conversations can help people feel less isolated, whether they are navigating addiction, supporting someone they love or carrying grief.
What would you say to someone considering joining the Walk?
“Just do it,” Chad said. “You will feel better after you walk.”
Gab emphasized that walking is only one way to participate.
“Every person has a role to play in ending addiction and supporting people affected by substance use disorder,” she said. “Whether you walk, volunteer, donate or cheer others on, your involvement matters. No experience is necessary. Just bring a willingness to help and a belief that, together, we can make a difference.”
Mary would ask what is making someone hesitant.
“The Walk is such a judgment-free place to be,” she said.
Their reasons for showing up may be different, but each reflects the spirit of the Walk:
Chad: “I walk because we are all connected to the human experience of joy after the rain.”
Gab: “I give back to the Walk because every person deserves to feel supported, seen and connected to a community that cares.”
Mary: “I walk because life is already hard and I’d like to make it a little less hard.”
Hopeful. Welcoming. Community.
Niki: Community—because the opposite of addiction is connection.
Those are the words Chad, Gab, Mary and Niki chose to describe the Walk. Each participant helps create this type of environment each time they register, volunteer, donate or invite someone else to join them.
Together, we can honor loved ones, celebrate recovery, and take meaningful action to end addiction.
