Dozens Attend Third Annual "Jump for Life" to Fight Heroin Crisis

A 19-year-old who died from a drug overdose was remembered in Oconomowac.

Archie Andrew Badura died three years ago.

There was  special event that brought awareness to our state's opiate and heroin epidemic.

State and local lawmakers hope it will put an end to it.

A leap of faith, into the chilly waters of Lac La Belle in Oconomowoc.

It is -- in essence -- a tale of the deadly and dangerous heroin and opioid epidemic unfolding in wisconsin.

The third annual "Jump for Life" is Lauri Badura's way of keeping her son Archie's memory alive.

Archie died of an accidental overdose in 2014.

He was 19 years old.

"There wasn't a lot a talk about it back then. There was a lot of stigma and people made you feel like a terrible parent. I did everything I could to prevent him from going down that route," said Badura. 

More than a hundred people showed up and stood in solidarity with Lauri, including senator Ron Johnson and a host of Waukesha county officials.

"We have an epidemic here. I know it's not as large as some areas but it's still and epidemic," said Waukesha County Supervisor Christine Howard. 

The family friendly event included music games and food, as well as trainings on how to administer Narcan --- the antidote for a heroin overdose.

Waukesha County Supervisor Christine Howard lost her brother to the epidemic.

"We have young children, who are being brought up with parents who are addicted. It's destroying lives," said Howard. 

"Saving others for Archie is really just that -- saving others for Archie. It's just bring awareness to an entire community and a state and hopefully i'll get to do it on a federal level," said Badura. 


Share this article: