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.