A Helping Hand for Brenda Johima Benefit Concert!
I was WOWED when I got contacted and asked if it would be OK for some musicians and music therapists to put together a fundraising benefit concert on my behalf in Vancouver, to assist with added costs and medical/travel expenses associated with my breast cancer. Of course I said YES!! I am incredibly HAPPY and so excited!
Three volunteers came out of the blue and offered to do this from their hearts. Shannon Ingersoll, Susan Summers and Ernie Day. I have only met one of them before, Susan Summers, and the other two are total strangers, and it is SO kind of them to be offering their help to organize this concert.
Thank YOU!
(P.S. Did you know that I used to be a musician, singer, and trained professional music therapist? YES. I graduated in 1987 as a music therapist from Capilano University, and then post-grad, completed an additional 1000-hour paid internship at that time, in Alzheimer’s care. I LOVED the career and rewards of helping so many people)
There will be other performers as well at the concert apparently, but even if just these few …
Sibel Thrasher!!!?? LOVE Her! I have loved her, forever, since my days at the Arts Club in Vancouver. Cannot wait to see her, to hear her!
Marcus Mosely!! A dear old friend from way back. LOVE him!!
The Sojourners!! Top Notch!! WOW. I have never heard/seen them perform but I have heard sound clips and seen videos and I cannot wait to see them live!
Edith Wallace! … another long time dear friend, from way, way back, from when I first started school studying to become a music therapist myself, in 1985!
Please do come, if you can be in Vancouver on November 15th, 2014.
However, if you cannot be at the concert in person, you can still donate right on this website >>> off to the widget in the right hand column>>> AND, apparently they will also be taking donations at the concert in person also.
Breast Cancer has cost a lot more than I ever expected. Cancer is NOT free, and it is not all covered by medical like some people may think.
Also, those who live rural, as I do, we get hit harder with cancer costs, due to the logistics and distances we need to travel for treatment, and to pay for out of town accommodations, while also taking care of regular bills coming, in, and in my case, while unemployed.
I also have a dog, a big 70+ pound dog, my beautiful standard poodle Teddy, who I have worked hard, with the support of so many people, to make sure he could be at my side as much as possible throughout my breast cancer recovery from treatment. So far, he has traveled back and forth to Victoria from Fanny Bay with me to treatment, each and every time.
Only due to the kindness of strangers, who have paid for our hotel bills in full, could I have stayed in pet friendly hotel accommodations with my buddy, Dr. T. (Doctor Theodore), who has now become known as my Chief Medical Officer 🙂
Costs not covered yet for Teddy : Doggie daycare, dog boarding, professional dog walking service costs are coming up, as I will have almost (not quite) an entire month of radiation treatments, beginning October 16th.
Costs not yet covered yet for me : Cancer Lodge (and/or hotel) accommodations for almost 4 weeks, commencing October 16th in Victoria, B.C., where my daily (Monday to Friday) radiation treatments will take place.
Please come to this Benefit Concert if you can! It would mean the world to me to meet you all, see you all in person. YES! I will be there in the audience.
I have a few more months of treatment (radiation is coming up next) and many more months of recovery and healing ahead of me, to be completely out of the woods with this breast cancer “glitch” as I call it.
I haven’t been working (at the advice of doctors and oncologists) or creating revenue (due to extreme and debilitating fatigue) since April 2014, so any funds raised will help me get through the end of 2014, and hopefully will cover Teddy and I for January 2015. After that time, it is my goal to be working again for February 2015.
Thank you to the instigators and organizers of this spectacular event.
Loads of Love,
Brenda Johima
A Helping Hand for Brenda Johima Benefit Concert
