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Hands Across the Bridge

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Hands Across the Bridge
StatusActive
FrequencyAnnually
VenueInterstate Bridge
Location(s)
CountryUnited States
Founded2001 (2001)
Founders
  • Patty Katz
  • Louise Wedge
Websitehandsacrossthebridge.org
The event has participants hold hands on the Interstate Bridge (pictured in 2007), which spans the Columbia River and connects Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.

Hands Across the Bridge is an annual event held on the Interstate Bridge connecting Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, in the United States.[1][2][3] Held on Labor Day weekend,[4] the event is part of National Recovery Month and has been held for 25 years.[5][6]

Patty Katz and Louise Wedge established the event in 2001.[7][8][9] According to KATU, the event started "with two women in long-term recovery who went from under the bridge of addiction to above it".[10] Approximately 200 people attended the 2002 event,[11][12] followed by 500 people in 2003.[13] An estimated 2,000 people participate in 2009.[14] Hundreds participated in 2023[15] and more than a thousand people participated in 2024.[16][17] Hundreds of people also participated in 2025 and 2026.[18][5] Since the deaths of both founders, organizers have included Alizz Quarles and Tabby Stokes.[19]

Participants gather in both Oregon and Washington, then meet on the bridge. The Jantzen Beach Holiday Inn in Portland and Esther Short Park in Vancouver have served as starting points.[15] Hundreds of people gathered at Esther Short Park in 2016.[20] In 2023, the park hosted a music festival, Narcon training, and speakers.[15] Speakers in 2026 included U.S. representative Maxine Dexter and Oregon state representatives Rob Nosse, Tawna Sanchez, and Lamar Wise. The event also featured hand drummers from St. Helens-based Medicine Wheel Recovery Services.[4] Tugboat blasts have been used to prompt groups joining, the collective raising of participants' hands, and a serenity prayer (a twelve-step program component).[5] Organizers have also shared mental health resources.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Parks, Casey (2010-09-07). "Recovery month kickoff a celebration of sobriety". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-11-27. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  2. ↑ "Hands Across the Bridge event celebrates people in addiction recovery". The Columbian. 2026-09-08. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  3. ↑ "Hands Across the Bridge celebrates recovery from addiction". The Columbian. 2026-09-06. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "'Hands Across the Bridge' celebrates 25 years of Recovery Awareness". KOIN.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Hands Across the Bridge celebrates 25 years of recovery". KGW.
  6. ↑ "Annual event on I-5 bridge kicks off National Recovery Month". KPTV. 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  7. ↑ "'Hands Across the Bridge' celebrates 25 years of Recovery Awareness". KOIN.
  8. ↑ "'Just reach out': Hands Across the Bridge a march for hope". KOIN.com. 2025-09-01. Archived from the original on 2025-09-02. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ "Hands Across the Bridge event celebrates recovery from drug addiction". KATU. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  10. ↑ "'Hands Across the Bridge' marks 23 years of connecting for recovery". KATU. 2024-09-02. Archived from the original on 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  11. ↑ Finan, Christopher (2017-06-27). Drunks: An American History. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-0180-6. Search this book on
  12. ↑ "Oxfest and 'Hands Across' join up Sept. 14". The Columbian. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  13. ↑ "Joining hands helps break addiction chain". Hillsboro News Times. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  14. ↑ "Hands Across the Bridge and Oxfest 2010". The Oregonian. 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "'Recovery's real': Hundreds hold hands on Interstate Bridge". KOIN.com. 2023-09-04. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ Schacht, Spencer (2024-09-03). "Hundreds join Hands Across the Bridge walk recovery celebration". KPTV. Archived from the original on 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  17. ↑ Hundreds join Hands Across the Bridge walk recovery celebration. 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2026-09-08 – via www.kptv.com.
  18. ↑ "Hundreds join Hands Across the Bridge to celebrate their sobriety". Camas-Washougal Post-Record. Archived from the original on 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  19. ↑ "Recovery from addiction achievable: Hands Across the Bridge set for Labor Day". The Columbian. 2026-09-07. Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  20. ↑ "Hands Across the Bridge champions message of hope". The Columbian. 2025-12-27. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  21. ↑ "'Hands Across the Bridge' joined people across the Columbia River to celebrate recovery". KVAL. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2026-09-08.

Template:Hayden Island, Portland, Oregon


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