1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Tara Tighe, Public Affairs Specialist
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Former National Basketball Association star Chris Herren will return to the Ohio Valley later this month to share the powerful story of his struggle with addiction, a group of community leaders announced today.
On Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, Herren will visit the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia where he will address students from multiple schools including Wheeling Central Catholic, Bishop Donahue, and Linsly High Schools. Later that afternoon, he will travel to Weirton, West Virginia to address students at Weirton Madonna High School.
Chris Herren seemed to have it all. After an explosive debut as an All-American basketball star at Durfee High School in Massachusetts, Herren played at Boston College and Fresno State. Capturing the attention of the NBA, Herren was drafted by the Denver Nuggets. He would also play several seasons for the Boston Celtics. Behind the scenes, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin abuse nearly cost Herren his life.
Leveraging his own experience to educate and inspire young people, Herren tours the country speaking about substance abuse and addiction through his Project Purple program. Project Purple is an initiative of the Herren Project, a non-profit organization founded by Herren to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse, and shed light on effective treatment.
In anticipation of Herren’s visit, the girls’ basketball teams at Wheeling Central, Bishop Donahue, and Weirton Madonna High Schools will sponsor two “Purple Games." Wheeling Central hosts Magnolia on December 9 and Weirton Madonna hosts Bishop Donahue on December 11.
Herren’s presentations on Dec. 12, 2014 are not open to the public. Anyone interested in scheduling future events or locating additional resources to combat drug addiction in our region should contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (304) 234-0100.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
