Unless you’ve experienced the same thing, it’s hard to understand the pain others go through in certain situations.
The toxic drug crisis, as everyone knows, has claimed countless thousands of lives during the past few years.
For the most part, all we see are the total number of deaths released each month. But behind the statistics are real people, not just numbers.
All those people have family members who are left behind to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Chadd Cawson is one such person. “I lost my little sister and best friend Jeni to this growing crisis,” he points out.
Cawson knows there are so many others out there just like him and he wants to bring the community together, including those who have no idea what it’s like to lose a loved one in this manner, as a means of healing and togetherness to enjoy each other’s company.
“The opioid and toxic drug crisis affects us all,” he points out. “We all know of someone who was taken too soon due to a drug overdose. Many have lost sons, daughters, siblings and other loved ones.”
Cawson started Winnipeg’s first International Overdose Awareness Day walk in 2018 in his sister’s honour and for all those that lost their loved ones so everyone can gather, remember and walk together in a sea of purples, the designated colour for the cause.
Now that he’s living in the Cowichan Valley, Cawson is continuing what he started elsewhere with a walk of the Crofton Sea Walk on Thursday, Aug. 31 at dusk.
He will speak to the gathering at the park beforehand and possibly others. There will also be music.
“Let’s come together on International Overdose Awareness Day to remember and honour those we lost,” Cawson said.
He will be handing out 50 glow stick necklaces for the walk and people are asked to wear purple.
A little support goes a long way for those directly affected because, in this case, it truly can happen to anyone of any status in the community. Cawson is to be commended for organizing this event to remember some people in our lives who are no longer here.