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Nathan's Story
It might sound like an exaggeration, but Nathan Dodsworth says it’s the plain and simple truth…
““If it wasn’t for LOVE, I’d be in jail or I’d be dead.””
Nathan knows what it’s like to feel pain. He was the type of kid who solved most problems with his fists. He wasn’t afraid of getting into a fight. In fact, he looked forward to it. Fortunately for him, a couple of punches to the face were difficult to hide. When he showed-up at a youth group meeting with a bloody nose and a freshly bruised eye, a concerned adult slipped him the contact information for Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE). The rest, as they say, is history.
Nathan’s life changed completely once he opened the door on LOVE. The not-for-profit organization taught him how to transform violence into peace. It provided him with leadership and coping skills that were missing from his life.
Now in his twenties, Nathan continues to attend LOVE, helping other youth who are struggling to find their place. He says LOVE offers a safe and welcoming setting where young people with tattoos and piercings can hang-out without being judged.
For the last nine years, Nathan has worked on making himself a stronger and more confident young man. Once addicted to drugs, he now proudly states he has spent more than 19 months sober. And, most importantly, he’s committed to staying on track.
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is proud to support LOVE Nova Scotia. This year alone, the Foundation granted $15,000 to LOVE programming in HRM, Colchester County, and Cape Breton.
We support young people who are struggling to overcome violence and addiction. We know there are many other Nathans out there and we want to help them succeed. Thank you to Nathan and LOVE Nova Scotia for helping us change the way people think!
Story written August 2014
Story photography generously provided by Lori Buhlman.
Learn more about Lori's work