Update On Joanne

You guys are awesome!!!!...As are all the walkers,..Congratulations on a job well done,...A fitting tribute to our angel!...Love to all...
 

I am amazed you guys were still smiling! That must have been exhausting! Great job ladies. I am sure Joanne would be so proud!
 

Congratulations on a job well done, and to all who walked beside you a big Thankyou .
 

Way to go ladies. My team and I had an awesome weekend too. Yesterday was so uplifting. So much power and inspiration in the room, we'll get this one so it doesn't have the power left to take another soul down the path it has taken Joanne.

Hope and prayers to all the DQ's and the D'E's for peace and a continuation of all your love to support and keep each other strong.

Hopes as well for peace for Joanne ... sleep well blessed warrior. xo
 

Congratulations Bev and Tina. Your steps will only bring the doctors closer to a cure.

Kim once wrote on this blog site that Joanne hated being the Poster child for cancer...but I wanted to thank Joanne for being so open with her battle, it helped others in so many ways, ways that she could never know. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and when she told me about her diagnosis, I wasn't too concerned, and I know that it was because at the time, I had seen Joanne's battle and heard of her remission. My thoughts of cancer were of Joanne and her battle and how well she was doing...3 years later, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and again, thoughts of Joanne and her fight were in my thoughts, I knew that I could be healthy once again.

Being open and honest often allows others to gain strength from our own battles. I thanks Joanne for this-

Rest well Joanne-Dee Dee Ridley
 

September 11, 2006

Dear Joanne,

I have not seen you in awhile or spoke to you recently, but I want you to know I often think of you. I think of your courage and strength in fighting for your life and the opportunity to give, watch and cherish your children as they grow. I cannot pretend to know what you have endured, yet somehow I am very proud of you.

I told you a few years ago how I admired your strength and bravery to give your story and share your family’s life in part of a TV documentary on life with cancer. Your openness and willingness to share and expose real life was incredible to me and especially with the graciousness with which you did it. Not only in that documentary but at various events or gatherings which touched my life too.

I’ll always remember reading the newspaper article about the pink skate laces and “we are the Raiders, we wear pink” chant that your son’s hockey team embraced with enthusiasm. They did that for you Joanne. You came to them and shared personal life experience with them for the sole purpose of giving what you could to that group of youngsters, and in turn, they joined your fight.

You showed them the true spirit of giving and sharing and community and family support. You didn’t just talk about…you really showed them. Not an easy accomplishment, but you did it. Be proud of yourself for all you have done. You are amazing. …and I don’t even know the half of it.

Tonight my sister told me you really weren’t well anymore. I cried. I cried for you, your husband, your children, your mother, all your relatives and friends, for our community, for all the lives you’ve touched, and for me too. I love to be inspired by real life heroes…and you have indeed been real, alive and a true hero to many.

I hope you get a chance to read this, to know how important you are to even those of us who are not so near. You have made a difference Joanne. You are a blessed soul. You have given your legacy to your children, Dylan, Dean and Darcy who will miss you the most and love you forever.

Sincerely,
Kim

Postscript: I just learned that Joanne has now passed this life, to reach a peacefulness foreverafter. God bless Joanne. God bless her family. I'll read my letter to her through a prayer to her tonight.
 

Hi Tina,

I just wanted to send a note to let you know that I am very sorry for your loss. I have been following the blog since you told me about it and just as almost everyone else has said, I have been completely moved by the love and support of these familes, friends, and even strangers. I can only hope that I leave half the impression Joanne has when it's my turn to go home. I also want to commend you on your passion for raising both awareness and funds for research to end this disease. I don't think that there's anyone is this office who doesn't have something pink! I can only imagine how hard that walk was with all the things your poor legs have been through this year. Thank you for doing that. It takes very special people to actively work to make the world a better place. Please call me if you'd like to talk. 905-569-2063.

Love,
Cathy