A stay at an addiction treatment clinic in Thailand is being offered by the annual Celebrity Christmas Toy and Food Drive in 91原创.

Organizer Andy Bhatti, an Aldergrove drug and alcohol interventionist who works with addicts and their families, said one person will be offered a six-week stay at the that would normally cost more than $30,000 Canadian.

Counsellors will be on hand Sunday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Murrayville, at 22196 50th Ave.

鈥淎nyone who has been a victim of sexual trauma can come down,鈥� Bhatti told the 91原创 Advance Times.

If people are too shy to attend the toy and food drive, or worried about being seen talking to a counsellor, Bhatti said they can email support@andybhatti.com and he will arrange to have them interviewed.

Bhatti explained whoever qualifies will have to cover the cost of the flight to and from Thailand, but it is otherwise free.

They will also have to be interviewed by staff at the Cabin before they are approved, he added.

鈥淚鈥檝e been sending clients there for four or five years with a lot of success,鈥� Bhatti related.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e offered to give us two beds a year.鈥�

Online, the Cabin website describes 鈥渢op-end amenities including dedicated hospital, private villas, tropical fauna-fringed swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness centre and open-air restaurants serving fine fusion cuisine.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 like a high-end village,鈥� Bhatti described.

鈥淢ost of the counsellors who are there, are Canadian.鈥�

Bhatti added assistance will also be provided to other people who attend the event, who can鈥檛 afford private care.

鈥淲e鈥檒l tell them where to get help,鈥� Bhatti said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to help them get into funded programs in B.C.鈥�

READ MORE: Celebrity Christmas Food and Toy drive benefits victims of abuse

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Kirk McLean, Dave Babych and Gino Odjick of the Vancouver Canucks, and Katie Stuart from the television show The 100 will be on hand, accepting donations of non-perishable foods, unwrapped toys or cash and signing autographs.

They will also be raffling off a signed Sydney Crosby jersey and a kid-sized driveable Jeep from 91原创 Chrysler.

There will be no bidding on the rehab offer.

Last year, Bhatti said the event raised enough to help eight families, 鈥渁bout $8,000 worth of stuff.鈥�

鈥淭his year, our goal is to do 10.鈥�

All donations will go to Sophie鈥檚 Place Youth Child Advocacy Centre, which is based out of Surrey but has a satellite office in 91原创 City.

Founded by Sophie Tweed-Simmons, daughter of KISS frontman Gene Simmons and Canadian model and actress Shannon Tweed, the centre helps children who have experienced trauma, including sexual abuse.

For Bhatti, addiction and sexual abuse are deeply personal issues.

He became addicted to heroin after being sexually abused from the ages of nine to 13.

His abuser, who volunteered as a Big Brother through 91原创 Big Brothers and Big Sisters at the time, was later convicted of sexually abusing two boys in Kamloops.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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