Lindsay's Race Against Addiction
Donation protected
On February 17, 2016, a Fentanyl overdose killed my older brother Nathan Rosenthal. Nathan did not go down without a fight -- despite his status as an educated and successful member of society he battled the stigma and was unable to find the help he needed. The drugs won on the afternoon of the 17th and I am pledging to stop them from winning again – on behalf of my family, my friends, my community, and Nathan's legacy.
I want to change the story by communicating that Nathan and others like him are not criminals nor are they degenerates because they suffer from drug addiction. Substance Use Disorder is documented alongside Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia, and thousands of other psychiatric disorders in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-V), yet addiction is still considered a crime and not a mental illness. I refuse to tolerate the destructive rhetoric and I am determined to use Nathan's story to educate others and push for political change concerning addiction and other mental health issues.
My first step in changing the story is running and hiking the 2017 Half Marathon in Nathan's name to support the Alberta Foundation: Changing the Face of Addiction (AFCFA), which is a non-profit organization based in Alberta, Canada. Role models Rosalind Davis and Jessica Holtsbaum began AFCFA in the wake of Nathan's death to educate society about addiction and support legislation that changes the way the government perceives and addresses addiction and mental health. My goal is to raise $10,000.00 for AFCFA by April 15th and to complete the 13.1 mile run followed by the Nevada Falls half-day hike on May 13th.
Nathan's uphill battle with addiction challenged me to pursue the hike after the run and his love of the mountains inspired me to register for the event that takes place in Yosemite National Park. In solidarity, I am asking for your help to support the work of the Alberta Foundation in Changing the Face of Addiction. Whether you have $1.00 or $100.00 to give, please know that your donation will make a difference in addressing the stigma of addiction on both a social and political level.
Please visit and follow the Changing the Face of Addiction Facebook page if you would like to learn more about the foundation. THANK YOU for taking the time to read my story and I look forward to working with you on a cause so close to my heart.
With gratitude, Lindsay Rosenthal
I want to change the story by communicating that Nathan and others like him are not criminals nor are they degenerates because they suffer from drug addiction. Substance Use Disorder is documented alongside Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia, and thousands of other psychiatric disorders in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-V), yet addiction is still considered a crime and not a mental illness. I refuse to tolerate the destructive rhetoric and I am determined to use Nathan's story to educate others and push for political change concerning addiction and other mental health issues.
My first step in changing the story is running and hiking the 2017 Half Marathon in Nathan's name to support the Alberta Foundation: Changing the Face of Addiction (AFCFA), which is a non-profit organization based in Alberta, Canada. Role models Rosalind Davis and Jessica Holtsbaum began AFCFA in the wake of Nathan's death to educate society about addiction and support legislation that changes the way the government perceives and addresses addiction and mental health. My goal is to raise $10,000.00 for AFCFA by April 15th and to complete the 13.1 mile run followed by the Nevada Falls half-day hike on May 13th.
Nathan's uphill battle with addiction challenged me to pursue the hike after the run and his love of the mountains inspired me to register for the event that takes place in Yosemite National Park. In solidarity, I am asking for your help to support the work of the Alberta Foundation in Changing the Face of Addiction. Whether you have $1.00 or $100.00 to give, please know that your donation will make a difference in addressing the stigma of addiction on both a social and political level.
Please visit and follow the Changing the Face of Addiction Facebook page if you would like to learn more about the foundation. THANK YOU for taking the time to read my story and I look forward to working with you on a cause so close to my heart.
With gratitude, Lindsay Rosenthal
Organizer and beneficiary
Lindsay Rosenthal
Organizer
Cambridge, MA
Joseph Rosenthal
Beneficiary
