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Celebrity Christmas Food and Toy drive benefits victims of abuse

Dec. 17 event put on by survivors helping survivors, says organizer Andy Bhatti
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Morgan van Linge (in blue vest) and Rachel Last (in grey jacket) of Langley were thrilled to meet Graham Wardle

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

The ’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.

“This event is put on by survivors supporting survivors,” said Bhatti, of Andy Bhatti Interventions & Addictions Services with Sagewood Women’s Recovery Center in Maple Ridge.

“Giving back is a key part of recovery,” he said.

“We believe since we took from society in our addiction, it’s now time to give back to society.”

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’s Place which is based out of Surrey but has a satellite office in Langley City.

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

To learn about Bhatti’s cause go to his website supporting survivors.ca. Sagewood Recovery Center is the only women’s 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 Langley Advance Times.
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