Tarrant Cross Child talks Thursday at Medicine Hat College. Cross Child spent years in the Hat before battling alcohol and gambling addictions. He now travels the country sharing his story.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
Former Hatter Tarrant Cross Child is back in the city and speaking at a number of schools before heading back to Saskatoon.
Cross Child spent 13 years in Medicine Hat and is a Hat High graduate — he moved to Saskatoon and has spent all of his years there since.
“It’s great to be back,” he said. “There’s so many things that are different and so many things that are bigger, but so much of it is the same and I’m happy to be here — everyone is still super friendly.”
Cross Child is back in the city to share his story — one of alcohol, gambling addiction, an attempted suicide and hope.
“Things were bad and I got to a very dark place,” he said. “My drinking and gambling got so bad that I just about lost everything.
“I had lost a lot of friends at that point and was very close to losing my family and my business.
“Eventually I made a suicide attempt and woke up in the hospital — I knew I needed change.”
Cross Child turned to running and physical activity as his form of therapy.
“Running is a great way to clear the mind,” he said. “Even being back here in Medicine Hat, seeing the trails I ran back when I lived here is so great.
“I really hope people hear my story and understand that there is hope out there for them. No matter what they’re going through — there’s always hope.”