Daddy's & Daughter's tend to share a special bond and it's no different with mine! They are our protectors and the one's who teach us: assertiveness, success, how to be self-sufficient, responsibility and unequivocally: that real LOVE is unconditional ...

My daddy has struggled with alcoholism for 50+ years and fortunately for me, I was raised knowing differently, hence much love and respect cultivated from my core years. It wasn't until my 30's (now 40's: 2019) that I got to have THAT daddy / daughter experience and deal with the ramifications that followed. After that many years of substance abuse, one can attest; there's a direct impact on the brain and moreso cognitive functions. That said, in my dad's senior years, he started suffering from Psychosis: Delusional Disorder, whereby accusing my mom (his faithful wife of 50 yrs) of infidelity.

As you can imagine, it was beyond unbearable - especially for all involved, living under the same roof and of no fault to dad, he returned to his coping mechanism: ALCOHOL! With many opinions to either put him out or institutionalize him etc ... etc ..., I REFUSED to give up on my dad because HE taught me what unconditional LOVE was truly all about and at this point in his life, he needed just that: to look beyond the illness/his actions and see the person - my daddy, MY HERO.

Being new to Durham, having no relationship with our GP or church body, I persisted after a 911 call and thankfully in my cry for help, ONTARIO SHORES heard me (and the rest is history). To date: we continue to strive towards mental healthiness and I personally, have become an Ambassador towards Mental Health AWARENESS ... because without awareness, perception is one's reality!

As such, from now until Friday, May 10th, I’m showcasing my hidden talent in support of mental health! CAMH's "One Brave Night" is a chance to share a piece of myself with the world for a great cause. I am excited (and a bit nervous!) to express my passion and creativity, so we can inspire hope for the 1 in 5 Canadians who experience mental illness every year.

Please donate today and help me reach my fundraising goal and some. Together we will break down the stigma, fund innovative research, and provide access to new and promising treatments for people living with mental illness, like my daddy (and I).