A North Hastings woman is spreading the word that anyone can be a victim of the opioid crisis and is turning her own personal tragedy into hope.
Vera Robinson is continuing to raise money for the Andrew Robinson Scholarship, named after her son who lost a battle with addiction in 2020 at age 33.
She has since raised more than $35,000 for the scholarship and several thousand more for Vitanova, a Woodbridge-based treatment facility, where her son received incredible support.
Robinson says Andrew’s story reminds that addiction is an illness that can affect anyone.
“While Andrew was in treatment, he was in treatment with doctors, lawyers, business owners, people from wealthy families and poverty-level families. It affects everybody,” she says.
“Andrew came into this world wide-eyed and inquisitive in 1987 and he died in September 2020.
Andrew spent those years just living life, being many things to many people. A friend, teammate, colleague, sports enthusiast, songwriter, local union member and avid golfer. He was a kind-hearted boy who grew into a well-intentioned man.”
Much of the funds have been raised through the Andrew Robinson Memorial Golf Tournament.
The third edition of the event, will take place at Harbour View Golf and Country Club, near Barrie, on September 16, 2023. The 2022 version of the tournament raised about $70,000 for Vitanova and the 2021 version raised about $60,000.
For more on the Andrew Robinson Scholarship fund, go to Vitanova’s website. Or contact Robinson at [email protected] or 416-998-6495.