Ronald McDonald House
February 3, 2012

Sometimes a person can touch your heart without ever knowing that they have. 

Last December, my mom and I stopped by Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House to talk with Martin Dugas and his team about doing some work with them. I had never been in to one of the Ronald McDonald houses but I knew a little bit about the services they provide to families from out of town who need a place to stay when they are in the city with a sick child undergoing treatment for a life threatening illness. They took us on a tour and by the time it was done, I was inspired by what I had seen and also had a far greater appreciation for what the Ronald McDonald houses are doing for these families.

While we were there, we got to meet a little girl named Keira from Peace River. She was so sweet – shy but still confident about her place in the world. Keira has Stage 4 Lymphoblastic Lymphoma… or to put it more simply; she has cancer. She was staying at the house with her family for a second time and was exploring the house while her exhausted mom was having a nap. Martin shared a story with us about Keira that I have thought about so many times since that day. Keira had been selected by the Make a Wish Foundation to be part of their program and when asked what she wished for, Keira surprised everyone by saying she wanted to go to Africa to help the babies there like her mother (a nurse) had done some time before that. They explained to Keira that as much as they would love to send her to Africa, they just couldn’t because of her medical situation and the possibility that she might be exposed to disease that her weakened immune system couldn’t handle. So they asked her to make a second wish and after thinking about that, she said that she wanted to fly the daughter of her nanny here from the Philippines to visit because she knew her nanny missed her daughter so much.  

Keira is obviously a very special girl with a big heart and I was lucky enough to get to meet her again when I was invited by the Ronald McDonald House to perform at the 2012 Hair Massacure event at West Edmonton Mall. Keira and her friend Ruby (a friend and fellow cancer patient) joined me on stage for my last song and it was a pretty special moment. I smiled each time the girls twirled and the crowd cheered.  

Keira’s cancer is in remission and she is doing well but the doctors have now discovered a large blood clot on her heart that her cancer is making difficult to treat. She continues to receive treatment for both the cancer and the blood clot so she will be a ‘regular’ at the house for a while yet. 

So… if you are wondering about a really good cause that you could support this year, I hope you’ll call the Ronald McDonald House and stop in there one day to check out their beautiful facility. And… I hope you get to meet a child like Keira who will touch your heart and make you glad you stopped by.

Dani ♥

ARSON DESTROYS SIX HOMES IN LEDUC, AB
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011
Well, sometimes Mother Nature is not kind to our world - like with the wildfires that devastated the Town of Slave Lake. Other times events occur that shake our belief in the goodness of people.

Early Sunday morning on August 21^st, fire tore through several homes in the beautiful city of Leduc, Alberta. Police have said that the fire was purposely set by an arsonist. We don’t know why; all we know is that 6 families have lost their homes and all their personal belongings.  The fact that no one was killed or badly injured in the fires is incredible.

I have been asked to participate in a fundraiser taking place in Leduc on September 3^rd and wanted to go out to meet the families who lost their homes. I was expecting to see a lot of sad faces but instead I was greeted with smiles and warm hugs.  Amazing. These people have just lost their homes, their special treasures, photos, favourite toys and blankies… all the things that mean so much to each of us. I can’t even begin to guess how devastating that must be. I talked with a few of the families and they spoke about how lucky they were that it wasn’t worse and how this has brought their tight knit neighbourhood even closer together.

Rosemary Kuntz has taken it upon herself to coordinate help for these families and has found it in the form of neighbours, businesses and the City of Leduc itself.  Joined by Angela Pauls and many other generous people, they will help these families through a very trying time. They have already organized and purchased school supplies for the children of these families so that next week they will be ready to go back to school with their friends. It is great to see all the help and support pouring in from everywhere!

I hope that many of you will join us on September 3^rd at Kosmos in Leduc to help raise money to support these families. Just imagine if it was you.  There will be lots going on and I will lend my support through my voice for some fun entertainment. Hope to see you there!

SINGING FOR SLAVE LAKE
WESTLOCK CULTURAL ARTS THEATRE
WESTLOCK, AB 
TUESDAY, MAY 31
TIME: 5 - 10 PM 
When the devastating forest fires struck the town of Slave Lake in Northern Alberta, hundreds of families fled as a large portion of their community burned to their ground. Over 7,000 residents of Slave Lake were forced to evacuate and they were hosted in their neighboring communities of Athbasca, Edmonton and Westlock.

In my last blog, I was more than happy to help Corus Entertainment (local radio stations CISN, CHED, JoeFM and i880News, and television station, Global) with a fund raising initiative that loaded up 3 semi trucks with much needed goods for the residents of Slave Lake to help them rebuild their community.  I also donated 25% of my proceeds from my CD Release concert for the same effort.

This past Tuesday, I was called upon by the Town of Westlock to come out and sing in an event called Singing for Slave Lake.  The humble town of Westlock wanted to host their own event for their neighbors to the north and hosted an evening with a dinner and musical entertainment.  I was thrilled to participate.  It’s amazing what a 15 year old girl can do.  I’m not that strong and I’m pretty small.  But with my voice, for the third time last month, I was able to make a difference.

I am very lucky.  I have a loving family.  I have a roof over my head.  I have food on my table.  God forbid if a tragedy like this every hit my family.  When you have so much, how can you not take the time to help?  It was easy for my mom and me to pack up the vehicle and head out after school to do everything we can to support the town of Westlock (population 5,000) support their bigger neighbor to the north.  

And in a very generous turn of events, 2010 CCMA All-Star Band bassist Travis Switzer called me up and offered to join me.  Travis is one of the top bass players in Canada playing for country superstar, Deric Ruttan.  It was a very huge and generous offer on his part to make the same trip as me to help with our music.  It was a positive reminder to me that even the big stars do it.  And that is very encouraging.  

Slave Lake now begins its long journey to repair their community. However, they are surrounded by love.  And the people of Slave Lake have strength and determination.  I know they will come back stronger than ever.

Thanks, everyone.
Danielle 

SLAVE LAKE
THE FIRES THAT ROCKED A COMMUNITY 
Posted: May 23 

Perhaps no other event affected me to start this blog more than the recent forest fires that consumed nearly half of the Town of Slave Lake.  This is a beautiful lakeside community that is north of my hometown, Edmonton.  I was horrified to see the images in the video and to hear about all of the people that have lost everything…their jobs, their homes, their possessions…  But Albertans are tough.  And the people of Slave Lake refuse to give in to mother nature.  And many other Albertans and Canadians have answered the call to help out.

I recently performed at a lunch barbeque hosted by Corus Entertainment.  Corus represents 4 radio stations (CISN, CHED, JoeFM, i880News) and one television network (Global).  All of the Corus family encouraged people to come out and to fill trucks with bare necessities (linens, clothes, furniture, blankets) for the folks in Slave Lake.  I was honored to sing at this event and to watch as the people of Edmonton filled up three large 53’ semi-trucks full of materials in only a half day.

As well, I pledge to do what I can.  I am having my CD Release concert on May 24 at the Edmonton Event Centre to introduce my CD, Off Limits, to the world.  I will be donating 25% of the proceeds from the concert to support the Slave Lake Relief Fund.  Additionally, all Slave Lake residents are welcome to take in my concert for free.

Let’s do what we can to support the residents of Slave Lake.

Thanks, everyone.
Danielle