After the loss of someone dear to our hearts, we as friends, and now business partner's feel it's time to make a change. I as a friend have started with one very basic fundamental connection; the love of a friend. Mike was a popular, charismatic, and mischievous teen. He was incredibly likeable, and always found a way to make people laugh. He began his troubles with addiction in his
teen years, wh
ich turned into an 18 year battle with drug and alcohol addiction. Mike's life turned around when he was about 30 y......ears old. He was tired of living a life that was undoubtedly leading to an early death. He got into a Salvation Army recovery program in Toronto, and became a new man. He achieved his GED, and went back to school. This lead him on a path to becoming employed as a Street Outreach Worker in the City of Cambridge. His dream was to supply addicts, the homeless, and those discarded by society the right resources to improve their lives. Sadly, Mike's life abruptly ended in February of 2010. Soon after, we as friends began discussing a way to carry on Mike's legacy, and to make his dreams a long term reality. After much research and conversations with people on the front lines of social issues and programs, we have realized in 6 short weeks, that the gap is more of a canyon, than a crack in the system. Our intention has been to officially kick off our business on April 14th, 2012. This would have been Mike's 37th birthday. 5 short days after announcing our business plans to friends and on social media, we were faced with our first challenge, and our first client. Our newest client has battled addiction for more than 25 years. He is 37, and remembers his first experience with ma*****na as a young boy. It's no secret, that exposure to a gateway drug at a young age will precipitate experimentation with stronger and more potent substances in the future. His heartfelt desire and desperate need is to get into a long term treatment program. His sister contacted us out of immense frustration and concern for his life. Her first tear laden conversation with us convinced us that we needed to start before schedule..and to give him the support and help that he needs. In the last month or so, we have walked beside him on his journey to recovery. We have made sure he was connected with the right resources in the community to keep him motivated, and thinking to his future. The road blocks have been many. Just setting up a date for an assessment at a local long term rehabilitation centre took 4 weeks. When he was taken to a detox in Hamilton, because there was no room for him in Waterloo Region, the intake employee clarified for us that she sees people come in everyday from all over Southern Ontario, because there aren't adequate detox and transitional programs provided in most communities. When he temporarily went out of Waterloo Region to seek help, he was abruptly advised that he would no longer qualify for his cheque from Ontario Works, and that he would have to apply for social assistance in Hamilton, even though he doesn't live there. Many years ago, we both remember conversations with Mike about the challenges facing addicts who are desperate to get into treatment. Most often, the demand far exceeds the resources, but more poignantly, the resources are most readily available to individuals with money, and not to low income, or those in the most desperate depths of addiction. We have realized in working closely with him, that when a person is ready for change, that person needs cheerleaders and support, from family, friends, programs and their community. This is not the case. Our client’s assessment on March 15th at a facility in Guelph, while inspiring and exciting, was disappointing as he was put on a wait list of 4+ months. Our efforts to keep him focused have lead us to look at programs very far from our region, as the resources close to home just aren't cutting it. He has been accepted and is soon on his way to a facility in Northern Ontario. He will be in an inpatient facility for a year, learning how to deal with his past and triggers, as well as learning new life skills for his very bright future. The challenge to raise the required tuition for him has been tiring. We have had a donation from a local church for a portion, but for the most part, the small amount of monetary funds required has been one of our biggest obstacles. Out of everything that he has required, the biggest need has been support. He has spoken to us in frustration and anger about closed doors, and we have patiently and confidently advised him that we are here to advocate for him now, during, and in the future. We have directed him to the proper resources right under his nose...and we have made it clear that we won't quit on him. Our goal is to provide resource direction and support to people walking the road of addiction, either themselves, or the ones they love. We want to help those who are at a place in their life to make a change...and may feel blindsided by the winding path of resources. We also want to provide support on all levels for people coming out of a rehabilitation program...where the rubber meets the road, and a new life begins. We are qualified, merely, because we are people who care. We don't intend to offer counsel, but to direct people to the right existing resources in their community and beyond. At this point, our journey is a labor of love, and is completely self funded. We are currently taking on this project in a part time capacity, but know that it could quickly grow into a full time job...a movement, and a revolution. We do it because we loved our friend. We do it because we are passionate...we do it, because it's the right thing to do.
