Amy Winehouse's Father to Set Up Addiction Foundation in Singer's Memory
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July 26: Father of singer Amy Winehouse, Mitch, arrives at Golders Green Crematorium in London. (Reuters)
Amy Winehouse's father wants to set up a foundation in the soul singer's memory to help those struggling with substance abuse, Sky News reported Wednesday.
In his eulogy at her funeral Tuesday, Mitch Winehouse told how his daughter "conquered" her drug problems and was "trying hard to deal with her drinking."
He said he was in New York when he heard about her death and "straightaway" knew what he wanted to do.
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"I said I wanted an Amy Winehouse Foundation, something to help the things she loved -- children, horses, but also to help those struggling with substance abuse."
"In this country, if you cannot afford a private rehabilitation clinic, there is a two-year waiting list for help. With the help of [lawmaker] Keith Vaz, we are trying to change that."
Vaz has offered his assistance with the foundation because Mitch Winehouse gave "powerful evidence" to lawmakers during a parliamentary inquiry into drug use in 2009.
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"I am happy to help Mitch in anyway I can with his important campaign to help rehabilitate those most vulnerable in our society," he said. "Two years on, we need to revisit this issue to see if anything has improved."
Winehouse was found dead at her home in Camden, north London on Saturday. The cause of the 27 year old's death is still not known, as police await toxicology test results which could take up to four weeks.