Hamilton Rotary Club members were yesterday given very personal evidence of how drugs can affect every family.

For the two speakers at the service club's weekly lunch told how their own families had been hit by drug addiction.

Chairperson of Fair Havens Christian Care Association Patricia Lynn was joined by the executive director of PRIDE, Judith Burgess, as they talked about substance abuse as well as encouraged the Rotary Club to make donations.

But both charity heads -- invited to tell the club about umbrella organisation the Council Partners Charitable Trust's fundraising telethon on February 28 -- revealed that members of their own families had grappled with drug addiction.

Ms Lynn began by telling the story of her own daughter's fight against drug abuse.

She said this was one of the main reasons she took the position Fair Havens Chairperson in 1992.

"Twenty years ago, when my daughters were in their teens, the temptation and invitation to experiment with drugs generally began with pot,'' she said. "I was aware that teenagers were experimenting with weed.

"I was a single mother working full-time and doing my best to provide a loving, stable and secure environment for my children.'' Even thought she suspected that her daughter was trying drugs she thought of it only as a passing phase.

"I remember speaking with other parents at the time about this and we were all in agreement that most kids try it.

"It was easier for us to believe we had nothing to worry about.'' As it turned out, her daughter had only began to walk the road of an addict.

But there was light at the end of the tunnel.

She said that over the years of recovery, her family learned a lot about the disease of addiction.

She said that her family's first lesson was that it can happen to anyone.

"No one is immune to it,'' she said. "It took many counselling sessions for all of us to realise what a powerful destruction the use of drugs brings.'' But in the end she proudly told the room full of Rotary Club members that her daughter has been in recovery for the last 11 years.

She explained that many women that knock on Fair Havens' door do have hope.

"Some of these women have been deprived of the basics in family values because their start in life exposed them to mothers who themselves were addicts,'' she said.

"It is absolutely vital that we continue to give our women an opportunity to make changes in their lives for the better.'' She added that Fair Havens was a giant step in this direction.

"Of critical importance on our to-do list is to continue our fundraising efforts in support of treatment for our women,'' she said. "In this regard I am so pleased to be a part of the Council Partners Charitable Trust.'' Ms. Lynn recently stepped down from the Fair Havens board, allowing Sandra Bain to take over as the new chairperson.

"My attention will now be given to fund-raising along with my colleagues who serve on the Council Partners Charitable Trust board,''she said.

Executive Director of PRIDE Judith Burgess was so moved by Ms Lynn's speech that she veered away from her own for a moment.

"When I was coming up, there wasn't anyone to speak with us about drugs,'' Mrs. Burgess said. "It was also a phase that never ended for one of my brothers.'' She went on to tell about her own brother's battle with drug addiction that he eventually lost before the age of 40.

"I don't want to see our young people get the way my brother did,'' she said.

"Young people need to be armed with the tools that will help them to fight the war on drugs.

"They need to share the PRIDE message (positive choices and anti-drug and alcohol) with other people and their peers.'' The slogan for the Telethon this year is "Giving for a Day, Helping for a Lifetime''.

"This is a great opportunity to donate a day's pay and for employers to match contributions made by their employees,'' Mrs. Burgess said. "As well, this is an opportunity to make an ongoing commitment to contributing to the Trust.'' She went on to say that Telethon 2000 is a vehicle to invite all members of the community to join with the Trust and National Drug Commission to fund alcohol and drug solutions.

"PRIDE has been working with parents and youth since 1986 to find solutions, educating both parents and youth in the dangers of drug use and empowering them with knowledge and awareness to avoid the struggles associated with abuse and addiction,'' she said.

She added that PRIDE's goal is to have a chapter in every school and parish on the Island.

Mrs. Burgess encouraged the Rotary Club members to tune in to the Telethon, make pledges and help publicise the event by using posters or Telethon stickers.

"However small or large your contribution , it is your commitment to help which will make a real and lasting difference in our community,'' she said.

Judith Burgess Patricia Lynn