WATCHING a loved one face drug addiction ended in tragedy for Wendy Davidson and she has started fundraising to ensure others do not face the same result.
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Ms Davidson lost her sister, Linda Stevens, in 2013 - Linda had battled drug addiction and was ultimately murdered by a fellow addict in what media reports at the time labelled a drug deal gone bad.
She was 41 and left behind a young son.
“She stayed with us for a while, but her friends found out where she was and got into her life again, and you have to walk away,” Ms Davidson said.
“It makes people behave aggressively and it destroys families.”
Nevertheless, losing Linda was a devastating blow.
“You feel like you’ve failed to get them through their addiction,” she said.
“I was just distressed about how her life ended.”
When Ms Davidson saw an advertisement for FebFast, a fundraising program where participants forego alcohol for the month of February, she jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s the first thing I’ve seen that I can be part of in a positive way,” she said.
“I was addicted to cigarettes years and years ago and there’s a lot of awareness and programs, but not so much awareness out there for people caught up in the non-stop abuse of drugs and alcohol and violent behaviour.”
Since 2007, FebFast has raised more than $7 million to help youth with serious drug and alcohol problems by providing advice and support - it has attracted about 50,000 participants in that time and will celebrate its one millionth alcohol-free day this month.
FebFast allows participants options to go without other vices including sugar, junk food, smoking and social media - Ms Davidson has opted for the sugar option in addition to the alcohol ban, in order to emulate the withdrawal symptoms people with an addiction experience.
“It’s a hard, hard road, but you feel like you can conquer the world after you’ve done it,” she said of her earlier effort to give up smoking.
“There might be some rough days with headaches and withdrawals, but I guess you have to keep focused on what it’s all about and by the end of the month, I might not even want to go back to it.”
She hopes to raise $1000 and has raised $210 so far.
To support Ms Davidson’s effort, or register for the event, visit FebFast.org.au.
