Comedians are providing an evening of laughter in support of a serious issue – overdose prevention.
Seth Perry, a Nanaimo comedian, had a personal experience that motivated him to raise awareness and try to support overdose prevention programs in the community.
“I was walking down the seawall and came across someone unconscious at about three o’clock in the afternoon. If I didn’t know the signs of an overdose people would have continued to walk by the person thinking the person was asleep,” said Perry. “The ambulance was called and the person received naloxone.”
Perry and other comedians from Mid-Island Comedy are performing during the Comedy Fundraiser for Overdose Prevention on Thursday (Feb. 9) at the Corner Lounge, located at 121 Bastion St., to raise money for Nanaimo’s AVI Health Centre.
Money raised will go toward food gift cards to give to clients accessing services. Perry said aside from raising funds comedians also want to raise awareness about overdose prevention and signs of an overdose.
The food gift cards will be given to clients at the AVI Health Centre who are accessing harm reduction programs.
“We are hoping to provide our clients with as much support as we can that are coming in for harm reduction,” said Dana Becker, manager of AVI Health Centre, adding that food or the incentive of food also motivates clients to come back because they feel welcome and supported.
Becker said it’s about helping people form connections and stay connected with the services. Forming connections can lead to clients accessing other services at AVI Health Centre.
People who can’t attend the comedy events but want to contribute to the initiative can make a donation by visiting the AVI Health Centre office, located at 102-55 Victoria Rd. People who donate more than $20 can ask for a tax receipt.
There are two shows Feb. 9. The show at 8 p.m. features comedians Perry, Branko Bevanda, Riley Aquino, James Sawatsky, Darcy Collins, Myles Anderson and Sean Proudlove. Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is $10.
The later show starts at 10:30 p.m. and is an open mike. Admission is $5. Doors open at 10 p.m. Comics who want to perform must contact Mid-Island Comedy through its Facebook page www.facebook.com/midislandcomedycompetition.
For more information about AVI Health Centre, please go to http://avihealthcentre.org.
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