91原创

Skip to content

Celebrity Christmas Food and Toy drive benefits victims of abuse

Dec. 17 event put on by survivors helping survivors, says organizer Andy Bhatti
77508langley1212-Celebritychristmasfundy2015
Morgan van Linge (in blue vest) and Rachel Last (in grey jacket) of 91原创 were thrilled to meet Graham Wardle, star of the CBC television show Heartland, during last year鈥檚 celebrity food and toy drive, organized by 91原创鈥檚 Andy Bhatti. This year鈥檚 event takes place Dec. 17.

Meet Vancouver Canucks legends Dave Babych, Jyrki Lumme and goaltender Kirk McLean at a Celebrity Christmas Food and Toy Drive outside the 91原创 London Drugs store on Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 鈥94 Stanley Cup final players will be signing autographs for the price of a non-perishable food item, unwrapped toy or cash for donation.

All proceeds will go to make Christmas hampers for children and women who are victims of abuse.

The toy drive is being put on once again by drug interventionist and childhood sexual abuse survivor Andy Bhatti.

鈥淭his event is put on by survivors supporting survivors,鈥 said Bhatti, of Andy Bhatti Interventions & Addictions Services with Sagewood Women鈥檚 Recovery Center in Maple Ridge.

鈥淕iving back is a key part of recovery,鈥 he said.

鈥淲e believe since we took from society in our addiction, it鈥檚 now time to give back to society.鈥

The Aldergrove native has biked across B.C. and Newfoundland, and held several successful celebrity poker tournaments to raise awareness of childhood sexual abuse.

His last bike ride was to bring awareness of how little counseling is offered to children who, like him, have experienced sexual abuse.

He kept the abuse a secret, turning to heroin by age 13, to escape the pain.

After years living on the streets and committing crimes to feed his habit, he became clean and now advocates for the rights of child victims.

He also supports Sophie鈥檚 Place which is based out of Surrey but has a satellite office in 91原创 City.

The centre helps children who have experienced trauma, including sexual abuse.

To learn about Bhatti鈥檚 cause go to his website supporting survivors.ca. Sagewood Recovery Center is the only women鈥檚 recovery center that works with all issues and addiction with doctors there to help women with major trauma from sexual abuse.

For more information, go to sagewoodrecovery.ca.

London Drugs is located at 20202 66 Ave.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the 91原创 Advance Times.
Read more



(or

91原创

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }