Update On Joanne

I have spent a lot of time thinking about Joanne and Mike and the kids over the last several weeks, as so many of us have, and thinking about how lucky I am to have been welcomed into their lives. I first met Joanne at a training walk for the WEBC when we started shooting the documentary, then met the rest of the family at the hair salon a few days later when Dean and Mike had their heads shaved in support.

I knew immediately that this was a very special family and that feeling came over me often as I had the privilege of getting to know them and traveling a little bit of this journey with them. Mike, Dylan, Dean, Darcy, Kay – thank you for sharing your story. I can’t count the number of people who asked me about Joanne after seeing the documentary and told me how affected they were by her. There will be more walkers, runners, cyclists out there every year, raising money for the cause, because of Jo.

The Daquanos have taught me a lot about love and friendship and faith and priorities – lessons that will stay with me and influence me forever.

I won’t be able to be there this week as you all gather to pay tribute to Joanne. I am in Victoria shooting a television special. But I will think of you coming together and think of Joanne, as I so often do. Mary Frymire, who worked on the documentary with me and lives in Vancouver, is coming to join me in Victoria on Friday and after the show taping is finished, we will go sit by the ocean, look at the mountains and share our memories of this wonderful woman.

With love to you all,

Lynn Harvey