After her son, Nate, lost his life to the toxic drug supply, mom Tiffany Daniel shifted her grief to keep his memory alive.

With the help of close friends, the was quickly formed.

鈥淲e came up with the idea to start a foundation and raise funds and awareness to support individuals and families dealing with mental health and addiction,鈥� Daniel explained.

Since then, the foundation has sponsored nine people to attend trauma therapy in Thailand and many others to attend counselling locally. 

Daniel explained that the program in Thailand goes beyond the typical 12-step program and gets to the root cause of a person's addiction. 

Nate had been gifted a bed in a trauma therapy treatment centre located in Thailand in 2019, and the life 鈥渞eturned to his eyes鈥� his mom recalled.

鈥淭he trauma therapy approach in Thailand helped Nate learn how to process memories and emotions that were triggers,鈥� she said.

But when lock downs and isolation-related restrictions were placed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nate relapsed and passed away on Jan. 28, 2021.

To support others who are in similar situations, the foundation hosts a slo-pitch baseball tournament and celebrity fundraisers to fund its sponsorships and counselling support.

Baseball was chosen because Nate grew up around the field with his mom.

鈥淲e thought a great way to raise funds to support individuals to attend trauma therapy treatment and do counselling locally would be a ball tournament,鈥� Daniel said.

This year's tournament, held at Philip Jackman Park in Aldergrove on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, Daniel hopes to break last year's $19,830 raised funds, but totals were not available by press time. 

鈥淭hrough our fundraising, we strive to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can find the help they need to thrive and survive,鈥� she added.

鈥淲e believe that every life is worth fighting for." 

Some friends were honouring at the tournament, who ran a recovery house in Surrey who helped Nate several times. McGuire sadly passed away on May 4 this year. 

"My son was lucky enough to be able to attend the [recovery house] and [Devin] never said no to Nate," Daniel shared. "Nate would be good, carry on with life, and then he could feel it starting and Devin never said no, Nate always went back there." 

She said the support of the slo-pitch community is like a second family, adding that the local and broader community have been very supportive, particularly Aldergrove where Nate had grown up. 

"If anybody is struggling, reach out. We have resources, we have people we can connect them with. Anything, don't be afraid to ask for help." 

Across B.C., so far this year 572 people have lost their lives due to the toxic drug crisis, 17 of them in 91原创. 

Unregulated toxic drugs are the leading cause of death for people in B.C. between the ages of 10 and 59, killing more people in that age range than homicides, suicides, accidents, and disease combined.

The drugs killing British Columbians usually include fentanyl, but by last year a cocktail of drugs was being detected in fatal cases.