This fundraiser was created in honour of my fiancé, Jacob Fedorneac, who lost his battle with addiction on June 3, 2020. No analogy can compare the feelings of losing someone you love, and to mental illness and addiction, no less. Jake and I were inseparable - he was my rock, my safe place, and my best friend. To this day, it still feels like a piece of me is gone too. He is deeply missed by not only myself, but friends, family and his two children.
Mental health and addiction were two things that were very important to him and he took the time to educate himself and others around him break the stigma surrounding the two. As someone who lives with comorbid mental health disorders and I am so grateful that I had Jake to help me navigate through my my mental health. Having someome who reassured you that it was ok to express your crazy thoughts, let you talk about why you're crying or why your angry is a saving grace. They know what you're going through, they understand, they don't judge. They've been where you are. That anger is normal. Frustration is normal. Sadness is normal. Feeling guilt is normal. Mental health should never be shamed.
In honour of Jake and as an expression of sympathy, I created this fundraiser in order to send memorial donations to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Jake's name.
1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness in any given year. Jake was one of more than 2,670 people to die of apparent opioid toxicity in the first half of 2020 (Public Health Agency of Canada). In Canada, those living with substance use disorders are up to 3 times more likely to have a mental illness, while more than 15% of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness.
It's imperative to show support and break the stigma attached to mental illnesses and substance use problems present a serious barrier not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to access to employment, housing, and other basic necessities. Mental illness and substance use disorders needs to be seen in the same light as every other illness.
ALL proceeds will go directly to CAMH in Jake’s name. Thank you for your kindness. Stay gold