In early summer of 2007, a local Elliot Lake legend named Gregor McGregor was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the nasal pharynx, he was 21 years old. It was a very rare form of cancer and at that time, his chances for survival were just slightly better 50/50. Gregor being the great young man that he is, never felt sorry for himself and prepared for the fight of his life. In addition, he learned that he was surrounded by a family and friends that would fight with him every step of the way. Gregor's best friends, Phil Boscariol and Phil Ucci without hesitation, shaved their heads in support of their friend, spent every night of the summer in Gregor's basement (as Gregor was too sick from chemotherapy and radiation to go out) and both vowed not to drink while Gregor could not. These sacrifices were not easy, especially the last one in the case of Phil and Phil.

At the same time, the Ucci family wanted to help Gregor in any way they could. Vince Ucci, having no real skills other than an ability to throw a party decided he would do that as a means to generate money for Gregor's travel costs. At the same time, local business owner and generally amazing person Jane MacDonald was also looking to help Gregor in any way she could. Vince and Jane spoke and now the event that would be known as Gregorpalooza had a venue, Dunlop Lake Lodge.

That same summer, the Ucci mother and sisters, Sheila, Christina and Lisa began organizing a car wash/yard sale. What they did was they organized a day where they would wash cars and sell items that the people of Elliot Lake had donated.

That is how it began, that was the spark. At the time, all organizing parties hoped for the best and just wanted these events to be in any way successful. None of us could have possibly anticipated what was about to happen. That spark erupted into a forest fire of kindness and generosity. The car wash was an incredible success with countless businesses and individual citizens donating not just old junk but things of great worth, things that sold easily. The actual party known as Gregorpalooza sold out. Local musicians entertained all night for free and people came from all over, as far as the Northwest Territories. Moreover, at least 30 people, both male and female left that night hairless in support of Gregor and his fight. All the events that year raised just over $15000 for Gregor but Gregorpalooza did something even more than that. It showed Gregor that he was not alone, not by a long shot. It was an opportunity for the city of Elliot Lake to show its true colors and the people of this city did just that. That first year showed that we in Elliot Lake are one big family and when one of us falls down, we will all come together to help pick them back up.

This is the fifteenth year of Gregorpalooza and for this milestone year, we could not possibly have a more deserving recipient, Jane MacDonald.  Jane is, simply put, one of the kindest, most generous human beings that we have in Elliot Lake.  How do I know this?  Because time after time, year after year, I have seen it first hand.  Gregorpalooza has helped 14 Elliot Lakers and raised over $144 000 for their families and I can tell you honestly, that none of that happens without Jane.  Sixteen years ago, when my friend Greogor got sick and I was scrambling to find a way to help him, it was Jane who came to me and offered her business as the location for this event.  It was Jane who allowed us back year after year, not an easy ask considering how wild those first couple of parties were.  Jane was willing to do whatever she could to help the cause; to help the people of our community.  Even when Gregorpalooza changed venues, Jane was still there, every year, donating her time and a lot of her money to make sure the people that attend Gregorpalooza were well fed.  You wouldn't know this though, because Jane doesn't do these incredibly kind and selfless things for attention, she does it because to her, it is the right thing to do.  I can tell you honestly that over the years, too much praise for the awesomeness of Gregorpalooza has been given to me and not nearly enough has been given to Jane.  

That ends now. 

 Unfortunately, cancer has given us, the people of Elliot Lake, the opportunity to pay back the kindness and generosity Jane has shown so many over the years.  Earlier this year, Jane was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma as well as another form of Sarcoma.  What this means is that she is currently battling two separate types of cancer at the same time and is currently undergoing a 16 week stint of chemotherapy to battle the disease.  This leads up until December and she begins radiation in January.  All of this is happening at the same time as Jane’s husband, Gord is also battling his own health problems.  Needless to say, this has prevented both of them from being able to work for quite some time.  

Jane has done so much for so many people in this community.  Trust me when I say that this woman’s generosity and sense of community is endless and when someone is in need, Jane is always there.   That is why I, as well as so many others, are lucky and proud to call her a friend.  Jane embodies everything that Gregorpalooza is about, she literally co-created it.  It sucks that Jane is sick and in need of our help but it gives all of us the opportunity to payback all the kindness she has shown to so many people over the years.  I beg of everyone reading this right now, please donate, buy tickets, buy t-shirts, share this event, do anything and everything you can to show my friend, Jane Macdonald, just how much we love and appreciate her.  Let’s show her that she has an entire army behind her as she battles her cancer and let’s make this, the 15th Gregorpalooza, the best one ever.