'Bachelorette' Star To Speak At Overdose Vigil In Gloucester Township

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A former "Bachelorette" contestant who has been sober for 12 years will serve as keynote speaker during Camden County's vigil on International Overdose Awareness Day.

Zac Clark may be best known for competing on "The Bachelorette" in 2020. But before becoming a Season 16 winner, the Haddonfield native faced his own battles with substance use disorder. In 2017, he co-founded Release Recovery — an organization that offers transitional living and other services for those on their recovery journies.

The Remembrance and Hope Memorial takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Timber Creek Park (236 Taylor Ave. and Chews Landing Road, Blackwood). Activists, health care providers, law enforcement and public officials will gather with residents at the vigil.

International Overdose Awareness Day, which is Thursday, is an annual campaign aimed at ending overdose and remembering lives lost without stigma or judgment. The Blackwood event is presented by the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the county's Addiction Awareness Task Force.

"This public health crisis is a disease that knows no bounds and it can impact anyone no matter your age, race, gender or income," said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr., who will attend the event. "Each year, on this date, we gather to honor those who were lost to this evil affliction and to show solidarity and support the family and friends of those who have had a loved one stolen by substance abuse."

So far this year, 226 people in Camden County suffered suspected drug deaths, according to state data.

Attendees will also include the following, according to Camden County officials:

• Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-1)
• County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay
• John Tomlinson, a Cherry Hill resident who lost a brother to overdose

The event is rain or shine. Find out more here.