Mason Brazil, son of Fighting Fentanyl event coordinator Ricky Brazil, lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in 2022. Photo courtesy of Ricky Brazil 

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - As the years pass since the loss of his son Mason Brazil to a fentanyl overdose, Ricky Brazil’s mission has remained the same: to spread awareness and provide resources for addicts and their families.

The fourth annual Fighting Fentanyl will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Holy Cross Church, 1321 Anna St., West Sacramento.

Expected to speak at the event are Yolo County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Preston Schuab, as well as “Angel parents,” or individuals who have lost children to fentanyl poisoning.

According to Brazil, there will be a broader variety of resources present this year including Empower Yolo, Sacramento County Behavioral Health’s Addiction Unit, Yolo Opiate Coalition, Stop Drug Homicide and Recover or Die. The event will also feature local vendors selling goods including homemade cookies and sourdough bread.

For Brazil, organizing Fighting Fentanyl each year has become a positive outlet throughout the process of grieving his son, who died in 2022. He started planning this year’s event in January alongside his fiancé Jessica.

“I’m numb,” said Brazil. “This is my therapy.”

Brazil is expecting a strong turnout from the car and bike show, with clubs including Whisker Biscuits, Chelu Car Club, LoLystics Broderick Car Club expected to attend.

Live entertainment is brought by Davis-based DJ Casper for the indoor portion of the event and DJ Santana for the outdoor portion. Family-friendly activities including face painting can be expected.

The event is an opportunity for everyone in the community to gather and raise awareness, even those whose lives have not been directly impacted by fentanyl, said Brazil. Brazil emphasized how common the presence of the opioid has become in narcotics including marijuana, and how quickly it can result in the loss of a loved one.

“It can happen to anybody, at any time,” Brazil said. “It’s touching all lives.”

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, fentanyl continues to be the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States.

“The awareness part is really deep,” Brazil said.

Brazil emphasized the role parents and guardians play in steering children away from drugs by closely monitoring their activities and enrolling them in extracurricular activities such as sports.

“Help people that are addicted and reach out to the families. You can’t grab them and reach them. They’re mentally checked out. That’s the person to save them; family and friends.”

As Fighting Fentanyl continues to grow each year, Brazil hopes the event encourages open conversations about addiction, connects families with support and reminds the community that recovery and prevention begin with awareness.

“The stigma has been lifted,” Brazil said. “We can’t help every person; we can open their eyes.”