Chris Farley's brother joins local families for golf outing to fight fentanyl crisis

 

SUSSEX, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Chris Farley became a household name in the 1990s with his role on Saturday Night Live and numerous comedies. 

Some 25 years after his drug overdose, a connection was made on this National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, between Farley's brother and the brother of a young man who lost his life to fentanyl poisoning right here. 

There are 18 holes at the "Love, Logan Inaugural Chari-tee Golf Outing," each one decorated to honor someone gone too soon. Most are from Wisconsin, like UWM student Logan Rachwal. 

Logan's brother, Caden, has never opened up about his loss publicly until now. 

"I think a lot of people, you know, they forget that it's not -- it's something that doesn't go away," said Caden Rachwal.

Caden Rachwal's teamed up with a familiar face out here.

"There's three people in our foursome that have lost a brother," said Tom Farley, Chris Farley's brother. 

While speaking about Logan is new for Caden, Tom Farley's been talking about his sibling's death for years. Actor and comedian Chris Farley was 33 when he died of a drug overdose in 1997.

"This image you have of somebody that dies of a drug overdose, still, to this day, is a negative one, and I keep pushing Chris out there to tell people. He had a wonderful -- we had a great time growing up, and we had a wonderful family, and he had an amazing career ahead of him, and still, it got him," said Tom Farley.

One-hundred and forty-four people teed off for fentanyl awareness at Fairways of Woodside Golf Course

The day allowed for casual conversation, jokes about the game and a feeling that someone else truly gets it. And when you look at all the faces on the Wisconsin memorial quilt, you get a sense that you're not alone. 

"I mean it's really nice to meet other people that kind of understand what I've been going through," said Rachwal. 

After a round of golf on a sunny day, it was time for prizes, dinner and impactful speeches. 

"As I watch my son Caden grieve, it has opened my eyes to how devastating and ripple effect this is," said Erin Rachwal. 

The Rachwals, pressing ahead to reach families in need, say now that Narcan's available on college campuses, they're looking at next steps. 

"The kids out there need to know that fentanyl is out there and that they can't put anything in their body that they don't know where it came from," said Rick Rachwal. "I mean, it can be fatal."

"One of our last places that we spoke, a few weeks ago, we left there going, 'that felt so good.' We had kids coming up to us, and I think we went 20 minutes long just because of questions. High school, they were so engaged, and we both left there feeling like, just in awe -- like, Logan's gone, but he is saving lives," said Erin and Rick Rachwal.