09 Jan Punk Rock Philanthropy
Benefit Show Raises Awareness for Mental Health and Addictions
A pair of arms struggling to climb out of a dense thicket of thorns. A crown fallen in the darkness. “In Loving Memory of Marcel L’Abbée.”
The artwork selected for The Mental Health and Addiction Benefit Show is a fitting tribute to a life cut short by the opioid and fentanyl crisis in B.C.
Hog, who also goes by the stage name Usually Trespassing, lost his brother Marcel in 2017. “He was in a severe car accident and got used to the painkillers while he was healing. He just sort of continued on with it afterward,” he explains. “We know he didn’t intend to take anything with fentanyl in it, his supply was laced. He was poisoned.”
Fast forward to today, and Hog has decided to do the only thing he can do about it: help raise awareness, try to help prevent further harm, and raise funds to support mental health services in the community he now lives in.
The Mental Health and Addiction Benefit Show will be held at Roberts Creek Legion, January 10th, 8 p.m. featuring punk rock bands Modern Terror, SloFX (the acoustic NoFx Tribute band), Usually Trespassing (Hog himself), and Trenchraid. Tickets are $20 at the door, and all proceeds will go to Sechelt Hospital Foundation to support mental health. Free naloxone, test strips and naloxone training will be provided on-site.
“My hope is to get the naloxone and testing strips into the community to prevent this from happening to other people, other families. I want all proceeds to go to addictions and mental health services at Sechelt Hospital to hopefully help others who are trying to recover and need some help. If this helps even one person, for me, it’s a success.”
Members of the community who are looking to make a difference and support a particular health-related cause, can raise funds through independent community events.
“We are honoured to help Hog and his circle of friends see his vision through and support the event. He initiated and organized the artists and venue on his own, which is no small task,” said Jane Macdonald, Executive Director of Sechelt Hospital Foundation. “Philanthropy comes in many creative forms. We sincerely appreciate his desire to help improve awareness and support for mental health services access.”
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, go to the closest hospital emergency department or call 9-8-8 (Suicide Help line), 1-866-661-3311 (Crisis Help line), or dial 9-1-1 for Police, Fire or Ambulance.
