Day 19 - Sydney to St. Peters

This was probably one of my favourite days of the Relay so far. As we left Sydney and made our way along Cape Breton Island, we are encountering many small towns. Those small towns have some incredible people and we got to meet a few of them today. First thing in the morning, we had a pretty powerful Meeting Point. We quite often ask our Medal-Bearers to share their stories of why they wanted to participate in the Relay, or why they were nominated by someone or why they did nominate someone as their Difference Maker. We made our way around the room and heard some pretty good stories from folks and then there were just 3 people left. We didn't know this at the time, but they all knew each other and had been through a lot with each other. They were husband and wife John and June, and John's best friend. We'll call the friend Kevin because I can't remember for sure what it was and I don't want to get out of bed to find my paperwork to double check....I know, I know...that's sheer laziness, but its after midnight and I'm tired and cozy. Anyway, names are not important, stories and friendships are. John and Kevin have been friends since they were born. They were introduced to each other in the first 6 months of their lives and have been close ever since (now in their mid 40's). Six years ago, John and June were in the process of building their dream house. John had their future all mapped out. He was an excellent craftsman, and a cabinet maker and had ambitions of going back to school to become a guidance counselor as he has a heart for helping people. All that changed when they went for a leisurely motorcycle ride together and were hit at full speed by a drunk driver. John, suffering serious injuries, immediately began calling for his wife. Against odds, he got up, found her and stood over her mangled unconscious body as the drunk driver stumbled up. "You killed my wife", he said. "My life is over, you just killed my wife!" Hearing this, the drunk driver got back in his car and took off. He attempted to conceal himself but in his condition, ended up smashing into 3 or 4 more cars and a house before evacuating his vehicle and runnign to hide in the woods. Thankfully this story has a somewhat less devastating conclusion in that June did survive the wreck. The driver was caught, but received nothing more than a mild sentence while both John and June were left with permanent scars and debilitating pain on a daily basis. John had ligament and tendon damage in his hands and arms and still suffers from severe neck and back pain in addition to regular headaches. Its time for Kevin to enter the story. Kevin, John's best friend, wanted to help. Since John was injured and unable to use his hands, Kevin set upon finishing building John and June's house that was in mid build. A pretty incredible act in itself, is made even more incredible by the fact that while doing this, Kevin was facing his own challenges as he was battling cancer. Slowly, the two of them, despite their pain and fatigue, and limited mobility, worked diligently together for short periods of time between rests, John possessing the knowledge and using Kevin's functioning hands, finished building that house.
John had to stop to compose himself several times while telling the story as the emotions are still very fresh and very raw. It is clear that he still very much bothered by the fact that both him and his wife are suffering everyday and the person that caused their injuries is still a regular in the bars around town. He is working very hard every day to move towards a level of acceptance and forgiveness and participation in the Relay was a small step in that direction as he was able to share what it with someone who has truly been a Difference Maker in his life for both him and his wife. I was able to speak with John privately afterwards and could feel the strength and resolve in him. He is planning to finally go back to school to get the courses he needs for his guidance counselor ticket and is very much looking forward to doing whatever he can to give back.

John and June...dating since 8th grade and still happy today!

In small town Nova Scotia, "Community" is everything. No one gets anywhere on their own and everyone pitches in where they can. In St.Peter's there is someone who is always stepping up to be that someone who aids or assists. A huge crowd showed up for a dual purpose function as the town was recognizing a local hero, Georgie, and dedicating a brand new recreation complex to him as part of him being selected as our final Medal-Bearer of the day. Georgie, owner of the local tavern and grill, has always been the first one to step up when someone needs help. He has given countless hours of his time and dollars to various causes and projects around the community. He has been an active coach in youth league baseball, and is a local hero as evidenced by the 2 different standing ovations he received during the ceremony. Sadly, Georgie as well has been attacked by cancer, his body riddled with bone cancer so badly that he has broken his femur and hip just during every day life. He can barely move himself and uses a wheelchair to get around, but in the 3 hours that I was chatting with him and interacting with him and watching him with others at the function, he was never without a smile, and never without a friend, neighbour, or grandchild close by. Yes, Georgie has found something special that even cancer cannot stop him from enjoying.

Georgie bringing it in!

Georgie with his family and friends

The Smile that made him a St. Peters icon!

Following the ceremony, the community hosted our entire team of 35+ people for a fabulous Nova Scotian deluxe dinner. The feast they put together was unbelieveable. HUGE lobsters, t-bone steaks, salads, rolls....and as much as you like....yes, including the lobsters!! What an absolute treat to have such a fun, relaxed atmosphere for dinner with warm, friendly, welcoming people. In St. Peter's hospitality knows no bounds!

YES! This actually exists...and no I did not try it.

Aww, now THESE are the ones I was looking for!

and I finally settled on my girl Loretta!

THANK YOU ST. PETERS!! YOU ROCK!!

Jonesy