give till it hurts

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http://www.ceosleepout.org.au/mobile/ceo-profile/2267/

Mike Young's story:

Did you know I have an older brother who is a reformed drug addict? Who spent time in jail? And lived on the streets of Edmonton for three years. Edmonton is a town where winter temperatures can get as low as -50c.

It is true. His name is Stewart "Skip" Young and he is 62.

When I was 9 he went to jail on weapons and drugs charges. We didn't see him much after that. He drifted in and out of our lives. Got married, had three kids, got divorced.

I saw him once in 1986 and again in 1998 at my Dad's funeral. After that we just lost touch. We assumed he had fallen to drugs and was probably dead. Harsh, but that was out reality. It was very hard on Mom, but she coped and eventually accepted it.

Then last year, up he popped on Facebook of all places! He said he had cleaned himself up and had moved into a hostel. He has a job, doing demolition, and has found his faith.

My younger brother Bruce has visited with him. Bruce said Skip was okay and that it is apparent that since getting clean, he has been tracking our family’s goings on and told Bruce he was really proud of what I had done in Australia.

I speak with him via Facebook and we’ve reconnected in a way we are both comfortable with. He is certainly keen for me to use his story to help others. Very keen. And he gives me advice on how to deal with street people: “Of course they’ll spend the money you give them on booze and drugs! If you want to really help them, buy them a juice and a sandwich at the nearest deli!”

He is also proud that I want to help St Vinnie’s sleep out. Even with what we have been through and with all the time and distance, he is still my brother and it means a lot to me for him to say this.

So I am asking that you help too with a small donation.

Thanks very much

Mike Young