Ride it Forward

In 2023, I lost my only son, Adam Sun, to the fentanyl crisis. Adam was a self-taught musician and artist, always on the 'go', whose life was defined by a restless, creative spirit. The Adam Sun Hope Sanctuary Society was born in Vancouver to honour his legacy by supporting young men and boys—the "Adam Suns" of the world—who are seeking a path forward through skills and purpose.

Two Families, One Mission

Our first international pilot project connects Vancouver directly to Porto Novo, Benin. Our partner, Wale Lagos Car Wash, is a dedicated local entrepreneur and the single father of two young boys. He operates a car wash—a community hub where youth and motorcycle-taxi drivers gather.

By partnering with him, we aren't just shipping "aid"; we are supporting a father’s dream to provide for his young sons while creating a training ground for the neighbourhood's youth. We are shipping a "Mobile Vocational Lab" inside a heavy-duty barrel to seed a tool-rental and repair program that will serve his community for years to come.

What’s Inside the Box?

We focus on high-impact, durable items that create immediate income opportunities:

• Metric Tool Kits: Professional-grade wrenches and sockets for motorcycle and bicycle repair.

• Spare parts: for motorcycles and bicycles.

• Solar Power: Portable lanterns so youth can work or study after the sun goes down.

• Creative Resilience: Art supplies and musical accessories to nourish the soul, just as Adam did.

Why This Works

As a former frontline mental health worker with 40 years of experience, I know that skills create stability. By covering the initial export and import costs from Vancouver, we are empowering a local father to train youth and sell essential items.

Our goal is $450 for this first pilot barrel. This amount covers:

1. Ocean freight from Vancouver to the Port of Cotonou.

2. The BESC (Mandatory Cargo Tracking) and documentation fees.

3. Customs clearing and local transport to the car wash.

How You Can Help

Every dollar donated goes directly into the "next barrel." Once our partner in Benin sells the items, 70% of that revenue is returned to the Sanctuary to fund Barrel #2.

Help us turn a tragedy into a catalyst for hope. Help us build a future for these boys—in Vancouver and in Benin.

Suggested Donor Tiers

• $15 – The "Tinker" Level: Provides a set of metric wrenches for a youth mechanic.

• $35 – The "Light" Level: Provides a durable solar lantern for a student or night-worker.

• $75 – The "Hustle" Level: Covers the BESC mandatory tracking note fees for the barrel.

• $150 – The "Anchor" Level: Covers half of the ocean freight shipping from Vancouver to Cotonou.