Beating addiction is hard work, physically, mentally and emotionally.

The women of Gateway to Discovery are doing the hard work of conquering addiction. And if that isn’t enough, they recently went out and did some hard work to make part of the Fort Dodge community cleaner and better looking.

Gateway to Discovery is a faith-based residential recovery program for women. Last week, the women tackled some of the mess once found along the Des Moines River near the Pleasant Valley neighborhood and along Mason Memorial Park Drive. The effort started under the Karl King Viaduct, progressed down Merwhether Drive, under the Kenyon Road Bridge and along Mason Memorial Park Drive.

Although nothing actually got painted purple, the effort was called Paint the Town Purple. That’s because the Gateway to Discovery logo is purple. Purple is also the color of ribbons supporting people in recovery.

To the Gateway to Discovery ladies, the cleanup was a way to return the favor to community which they feel has done so much for them

“If it wasn’t for the community donating, we wouldn’t have this halfway house today, so it’s very important for us to give back,” Lyndsey Rholl, the Gateway to Discovery program director, told The Messenger.

The ladies of Gateway to Discovery are in fact an inspiration to the rest of the community. First, they are defeating the demon that is addiction. And if that isn’t enough, they are picking up litter and hauling away junk that others carelessly and in some cases deliberately tossed into what would otherwise be a beautiful natural area.

Anyone looking for an example of how to live a life of strength, courage and service can easily find one by looking to the women of Gateway to Discovery.