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Drag Show raises $22,000 for elementary prevention program

Show stars Mz. Adrien and friends at Pitt Meadows hall.
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The Drag Show for Alouette Addictions starred Mz. Adrien and friends.

A record $22,000 was raised at the third annual Drag Show in support of Alouette Addictions Services on the weekend.

Annika Polegato, executive director of the not-for-profit organization, is floored by the amount and support for the fundraiser.

The Drag Show, starring Mz. Adrien and friends, has been a hit since the inaugural event sold out in 2015, raising $5,000 for the Alouette Addictions Services elementary-school-based prevention program.

The second year the show raised $7,500, selling out again, with a waiting list of people wanting tickets.

This year, the event was moved from Hammond Hall, which seats 130 people, to Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, which seats 180.

Polegato still had a waiting list.

The money raised will go to a pilot project Alouette Addictions has been working on for the past three years with School District No. 42. It is geared towards students in Grades 6 and 7 and is an interactive presentation teaching them about understanding the risks and safe decision making when it comes to alcohol and drugs.

The first year the program started, it addressed six classrooms across the district. At the end of March, it will have done 50 presentations.

“We really build on kids’ resiliency, self-worth and safe decision making. We talk about things like inclusion and community,” Polegato said about the elementary school educator who does the presentations.

“It’s about understanding risks and being aware of what’s happening with drug trends and safe decision making,” she added.

Polegato believes that children have to make their own decisions and do their own reasoning about situations. This program gives them the tools to be able to do that.

“Research has show that ‘Just Say No’ isn’t effective messaging,” said Polegato, adding that once a child enters high school, it’s a different world.

“So let’s talk about how you get yourself out of difficult situations. Let’s talk about why you wouldn’t use, why you would or how would you support a friend if you are worried about them,” she said.

The program is not in all schools yet and is supported strictly by donations and grant money.

Any expansion of the program would have to be sustainable financially for at least three years.

Ray Sunshine was a special guest performer Saturday evening.

The local entertainer took a few minutes before the show started to talk about her own experience with addiction and subsequent recovery and why she chose to get involved this year.

“It was interesting. Her messaging was around how she got clean,” said Polegato.

She used drugs because of social isolation, struggling with sexuality and being different.

“How she got clean was around having support and having people reach out to her and having a sense of community,” Polegato said.

Sunshine has been clean for two years, five months, six days and counting.

“Listen to someone when they ask for the help. I know it can be the same song and dance, but it can also save their life by just walking with them or talking,”  Sunshine said.

“It saved my life and I’m forever grateful to those friends.”