102982: Today Is My Late Brother's Birthday. Reaching Out For Support.

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If anyone knows of any Drug (Prescription) Awareness/Prevention in the DC metro area preferably please let me know.


The background:

My brother was a pro/semi-pro Skateboarder sponsored by a few companies (EastCoast Clothing, Invisible Flow, Zion, etc.)

Here is a vintage video of mainly stuff from the late 90's (technology used to be a struggle back in the day man!) that one of his friends recently compiled and put on YouTube:



He passed away in 2002 at the age of 20.


A few years back (circa 2010) I started playing with the idea of finding a way to give back and share his legacy of all the people's lives he touched. A facebook page was created to organize events and really brainstorm some great ideas.

We threw a highly successful event in 2010 at a local skate part (see the pictures on the community page) and had a few companies come out and give a way tons of clothing, skateboard decks, stickers, supplies and food. It was awesome, but I think I still lacked direction and guidance on the overall plan and purpose.



I had to recreate a Facebook for this, but it is well worth it:

I would appreciate any/all NT support on sharing this or assisting with generating ideas:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naji-Said-Abdelilah/131594270206809



Share it, like it, propose some good, quality causes to donate to.


I was putting together a Memorial Fund as well (possibly a scholarship of some sort for disadvantaged youth).


Thanks and I appreciate it. I figured if NT and myself can help KSteezy win a fashion contest....maybe NT can assist with something that I feel is truly important (at least to myself and people in the area).


http://www.shockva.com/ has been great with supporting my brother these last few years. They have made clothing and decks in his name. Folks have been super appreciative of their efforts and creations.


SIGN HERE:


www.tinyurl.com/NSAskate
 
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Hope all goes well.

R.I.P. to your bro.
 
RIP and sorry for your loss man.

You come off as a good person and give sound advice here on NT and I hope we can rally around you and help.
 
RIP to your bro. I will be keeping on an eye on this thread. I don't have facebook but please let me know if there is any way I can help/donate.


Appreciate it. I didn't have one for the last 3 years or so, but I figured it was worth sacrificing my personal views on the site for the greater good of a cause. The people I passed the page onto were not operating it as well as I was/would be doing....so I reclaimed the efforts and hope to make some huge progress this year.
 
Guys it's all good. I didn't make this thread to get pity or just condolences (although appreciated). It has been almost 11 years, and coming from a Single Parent household....I was never allowed to mope around or get down. It was just another obstacle or challenge and my focus shifted on taking care of my sister and mother back when I was 17 years old.

I'm 27 now....but I've always been a little more mature than most my age because of my situations. That doesn't mean I didn't make plenty of mistakes along the way.

I have thoroughly appreciated NT overt the years as it is one of the few things that was a part of my life at a time when my brother was still here.


Back when SBs were just hitting the scene.....we used to go up to Pit Crew in Maryland (a shop that he skated for too) and get laced up with some good stuff. If I go to my mom's house, most of his shoes are still sitting there (olives, sharks, bisons, etc.).
 
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This is pretty dope

You should see if you can get some local artists to come out and perform 

Let me know how I can donate or possibly cop one of those t shirts 
 
:pimp:
This is pretty dope

You should see if you can get some local artists to come out and perform 

Let me know how I can donate or possibly cop one of those t shirts 

Definitely man. We are in the process of designing new shirts. We have had about 2-3 over the years. A lot of people liked this last one though, might have to do another run.

We had a lot of artists come and donate art work and such:

View media item 334575View media item 334577View media item 334579View media item 334581
 
I like the shirt and designs- tried to link the page (but keep in mind that I only have 60 friends or so on my FB). Any other ways to help out?


I appreciate it. I don't have many friends either on there, 150 or so....but I would more so be attempting to brainstorm ideas/concepts for finding/selecting a charitable place to donate funds raised to.


Just any and all things pertaining to non-profits (I did lots of research last time regarding this), but never settled on the best method to facilitate such a venture.


Memorial Fund? Scholarship?
 
keep us updated on what we could do/help. always willing to help out a fallen skater.

get in touch with local skate shops to help/post up flyers, organize a skate contest or skate day/bbq in his honor.
 
keep us updated on what we could do/help. always willing to help out a fallen skater.
get in touch with local skate shops to help/post up flyers, organize a skate contest or skate day/bbq in his honor.


Definitely man. I'll have a flyer designed once some of the dates become concrete.

I'll be definitely be down to send out shirts once designs are finished and they get printed up. (Culture Shock VA could also print some NT shirts if Meth allowed it....I know folks have been fiendin' for some new ones).


Yeah we through a skate contest/event and cook out back in 2010 and the turn out was huge. Big hit in the area. They renovated that skate park now and it is under strict guidance and it is tougher to do something like that there again.


I'll peep the local skate shops for some input/advice and try to reach out on that level as well.


Appreciate it.


I'll also be down to raffle off some stuff for those that help.

I have a lot of random stuff, shoes included: www.instagram.com/nta822


Definitely wouldn't hesitate to share my hook ups and connections with those willing to help.
 
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Not really my idea but I'm for the scholarship. Its hard to fund, but its something that I've seen work many times in the past and the person who gets it is always grateful.

I tried to learn to skateboard(before 2006, Rocket Power made me do it) and I never could get the board to move. Its harder than it looks man
 
Not really my idea but I'm for the scholarship. Its hard to fund, but its something that I've seen work many times in the past and the person who gets it is always grateful.

I tried to learn to skateboard(before 2006, Rocket Power made me do it) and I never could get the board to move. Its harder than it looks man


Ha. I know that's right. I tried to for a little bit back in the day, but after taking some spills on some stairs and smaller half pipes.....I went back to baseball/basketball.


I've created this through Crowd Rise:


I've had some people reach out about donating already.

http://www.crowdrise.com/NajiSaidAbdelilahMemorialFund
 
Yeah, i know we have some good designers around here

On another note, I'm kinda broke (and saving for a house right now), so giving money wouldnt be my strong suit right now. However, I do have 2-3 pairs of decent shoes and 4-5 nice fitteds that we could auction off (some shirts too). I'll ship em out to you to get things started if you're cool with it


I appreciate it man. I have a bunch of stuff to raffle off or auction off too. I guess more important than money at the moment is people's time....I'm not sure what some of the next moves are on these kinds of ventures as this is still uncharted territory and I'm learning as I go each day.

Exposure and just awareness to the causes goes a long ways and I'm super appreciative for that.


Being that he passed from an accidental overdose....I was trying to find some sort of cause/charity that would align with that. All I can find are Addiction based causes (which are great as well), but he wasn't an addict. Possibly....some sort of Drug Awareness/Prevention cause for prescription medicines/pills?
 
i don't really have any ideas or a FB but i just wanted to say that i think your brother would be proud of you..

because you come off as a great guy.. i do agree with the BBQ idea and the scholarship idea though.

also, i think it's kinda messed up that only TAN guys have posted in here...

where is the NT unity at goddamn it.
 
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^ I feel you on that. As somebody that actually was addicted to prescription pills (amongst other things), I can say that would be great. I would've never done heroine or meth, or crack for that matter (because of the awareness of how devastating and disgusting they are)- but the fact is that SO many prescription pills are just as addictive and dangerous as those substances. People get hooked to them so often, and for so many various reasons- its something that definitely needs attention


Well that is amazing you made it through, because so many people usually end up dead or in jail. The girl I had to just leave had a brother that was addicted to heroine and prescription pills.

Once he wasn't able to get or find heroine....he downgraded to crushing up prescription medicine and shooting it up. And for years no one no......his mother believed he had diabetes (she was a gullible/naive Christian woman) and would give her son needles thinking he was using them for "diabetes." He finally came out and confessed to me of all people first....and then we became close once I was able to understand his behavior pattern and it all made sense to me.

I tried to help and keep him clean when he lived with me/us.....but obviously I had a job to go to and couldn't watch him 24/7. He has been in jail for the last year and a half. He had stolen from his family one too many times.....and I mean big time. Taking their credit cards and letting dealers rack up $20,000 in charges at the malls and such just for drugs. Taking all the money from a kid's piggy bank, pawning family jewelery, you name it.

I just saw the toll addiction takes on people and it is no joke.


Props to you for not ending up deceased or in jail.
 
i don't really have any ideas or a FB but i just wanted to say that i think your brother would be proud of you..

because you come off as a great guy.. i do agree with the BBQ idea and the scholarship idea though.


also, i think it's kinda messed up that only TAN guys have posted in here...

where is the NT unity at goddamn it.


I really appreciate that man, those are the kind of positive thoughts /comments I try to focus on. I think out of his hundreds and hundreds of friends only one person has stepped up and really expressed a relentless interests in the cause and efforts on him. He might even have been more into than me over these last few years....almost obsessively (I think because he feels guilty even though I don't blame anyone).


I know how NT goes man....a lot of folks are selfish/self-centered dudes. They blew up on my inbox/gmail/twitter/phone begging for Swoosh accounts and Cole Haan cards when I was giving them away. Hell last month I sent two of them away randomly to some cats in the Dressing Better thread. Where those guys at???? Exactly. I learned that along time ago and I don't expect much in return from folks...even when they are thanking you vehemently when you give them something or hook them up, most have no intention of paying it forward.


Tell Ninja Hood to quit complaining about TAN and posting Heightz Hoodz Newz and do something constructive. NT can post thousands of times for a GQ contest for Elkin and cannot muster up 30 replies to some real life s***.


Community? More like a joke to me.
 
How about hosting a local skate tourney in the dmv, I don't think that there aremany of those in the area...and I know most kids love to skate.

Have the funds/winning go towards some sort of scholarship in your brothers name.


Thanks for the input. Yeah back in 2010 we had a skate event in Northern VA and it was a great turn out. But I wasn't sure how to run an official skate contest, so it was more of a skate session with a best trick contest and biggest air contest on the half pipe. A few companies came and gave out mad stuff and there was tons of BBQ and food. It was truly an awesome experience.


I wanted to do something similar, but more structured and have a better plan. I was researching possible venues and parks now. The place we held it at last time has since been renovated and tightened up on their restrictions and won't allow that again without proper clearance/approval.
 
Liked your page, if there is a place to donate some cash through PayPal, post t up.
 
Liked your page, if there is a place to donate some cash through PayPal, post t up.


Appreciate the like man.


More than the money from NT, I really just wanted the support or input man: I am not out here panhandling for money and such. I just thought this was a tight knit community.....but it appears people only come out in full force to be associated with popular "NT Icons."


I've created this through Crowd Rise:


I've had some people reach out about donating already.

http://www.crowdrise.com/NajiSaidAbdelilahMemorialFund



I more so was just looking for ideas/input....connections or maybe someone that has done this before. Pointed in the right direction would be nice.
 
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