Michael Ryan Pomeroy struggled with drug addition for years, even kicking the habit for a while.
During his sobriety he travelled to Mexico and built homes for children.
“He was turning his life around. He had been clean for five years and then he went back (to drugs),” said his brother Shawn Pomeroy. “When Mike died he was 27.”
Pomeroy found his brother dead in their mother’s Langford home four years ago, after an overdose.
“I want to raise awareness for addiction, it’s still a little stigmatized,” Pomeroy said. “Addiction has no discrimination, it affects doctors, lawyers, anesthesiologists and plumbers.”
In memory of his brother, the Langford painter is hosting Fundraiser for Addiction at his Surge Art Gallery. Pomeroy has been painting for about 15 years creating abstract works with acrylic paints.
He is calling out for items such as socks and toothbrushes to be donated to Our Place in Victoria. He is also accepting cash offerings. Pomeroy also hopes local businesses will contribute items for his fundraiser.
Anyone dropping of a donation at the gallery will be entered in a raffle to win one of Pomeroy’s paintings.
One painting hanging in the gallery is off the market and will be donated to Cedars Residential Treatment Program in Cobble Hill.
It’s titled “Michael Ryan” after Pomeroy’s brother.
“Hopefully is makes a dark wall a bit brighter,” Pomeroy said,.
Prints of the painting will also be sold and he will donate a portion of those sales to Our Place.
The Fundraiser for Addiction is at Surge Art Gallery, 106-866 Goldstream Ave. Nov. 18 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information email shawn@surgeartgallery.ca