A Wellington family mourning a loved one is working to help other young people in their community.

David LoCastro died as a result of a drug overdose last month at the age of 23.

His family said he'd been battling addiction for the last 10 years, most recently with heroin.

"David had a smile for everyone, a hug for everyone," said his aunt, JoAnn Omer. "He was just a loving kid."

"He was just really loving, even to people he didn't like too much," joked his girlfriend, Gaby Pesce.

"He had a bright future ahead of him," said his brother, Anthony LoCastro. "He just was going down a dark road and he couldn't find the way off of it."

Eventually, it killed him.

Family members said David tried half a dozen times to stop using but each time he ran out of money and could no longer pay for the help.

"It's a big financial burden and we don't have enough financial assistance out there," said Omer.

David's family said they can't let what happened to David happen to anyone else.

They've started a foundation called HOPE. It stands for Helping Overcome Pain and Emerge.

They're raising money to help pay for treatment and rehabilitation for young people battling drug addictions.

"I believe that until the day I take my last breath on this Earth that my voice is going to be heard, my family's voice is going to be heard," Anthony LoCastro said.

"If we can save one life at a time then David will be with us forever," Omer said.