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Joanne Klauke-Labelle, Sarnia, Ontario, Age 35
submitted by Carol Ann Leverton

My Friend Joanne is the strongest person I know. After gaining the courage to leave an unhappy marriage and fight for custody of her 2 beautiful daughters, she was told she had Uterine Cancer. Being a dedicated, deeply involved Mom, the most tragic part for her was that she would not be able to have any more children. Little did she know she would end up with hundreds of them.

Within 2 years of her initial diagnosis her cancer had spread to her liver and her kidneys. She endured many painful days, all the while maintaining the lifestyle she had created for her daughters, a loving mother who was dedicated to raising intelligent, caring, successful children. Her home never slowed down; homework, school plays homemade cookies all remained part of her daily routine. Even Joanne’s piano students never missed their lessons from their loving teacher.

When Joanne was told how much the cancer had really taken over her small petite body she gathered all the people she loved and told them all they would not be allowed to mourn for her but must celebrate the time we all had left. Her children were her first priority and she settled into, what she thought at the time, would be her last summer, by spending all the time she could with her loved ones.

Along with the miracle of a wonderful man who told her he wanted to marry her before she left us, her cancer decided it wasn’t time for her to leave us yet. Taking hold of a new chance she married her soul mate and decided she had work she needed to do before her time came. Having been a music teacher all her adult life and being distressed over the loss of music programs in our schools she realized this was her place to make a difference.
Joanne decided her legacy would be Harmony Music Education for Youth.

The mission statement for her group is as follows:
" Harmony is a group where we teach music and use music as a venue to build up kids. Our philosophy is that "We give music and music lessons freely; we ask that our members give back to the community, province, country and the world their music freely". Only by freely giving these gifts can we truly make them ours.

Harmony offers a safe place for youth to interact with each other and with caring adults. Harmony insists on "no negative talk" while youth are with us and to always uplift and support fellow members.

Harmony provides vocal and instrumental lessons to youth and musical theatre opportunities as a gift to help young people learn develop and grow. We do not believe in the words can't, incapable and impossible. We ask only that each person do their best to become the best people they are capable of being.

All who wish to work with us in a caring, positive and nurturing way are welcome."

She turns no child away hence hundreds of children in her community benefit from her love and care. So she got her wish, she is now "Mom" to hundreds of lucky kids, and those of us who love her are all grateful that this angel was left here with us for a while longer.

Everyone who meets Joanne is changed by her love and energy.

Thank you to all the riders who will help get us a little bit closer to a cure so that Joanne may be able to see her daughters get married and see her legacy grow and flourish. You are a shining example of Joanne’s mission to "freely give our gifts so we can truly make them ours".