Memorial Tree

Shan went to camp oochigeas the camp for kids with cancer. She went on the weekend, it was just for siblings who have lost a brother or sister to cancer. This is one of the camps that the Ride for Karen sponsors. Shan had a great time there and made lots of new friends. We are so proud to be a part of sending these kids to this incredible camp. The pictures from the ride for Karen are on there website if your interested in checking them out, go to http://www.rideforkaren.com/ Shan, Karen and I went out to camp ooch a couple of weeks earlier for the James funds first annual Neuroblastoma retreat weekend. This was a very hard trip for Karen and I to make, being so close to Shania's passing, but we felt that we had to be there. We arrived Friday night to a very warm welcome by the volunteers who helped everyone unpack there vehicles, get registered and parked. Once we were settled in to our room we walked over to the meeting lodge, which is in front of there lake, this was an incredible sight to see with the full moon reflecting off of the glass still water, and a mist rising over top, it gave it a magical feel to this amazing camp. It was great to see the Neuroblastoma families, Doctors and staff that we had met at Sick Children's Hospital . The Birrell family and all of the volunteers made this weekend a special one for the Neuroblastoma families. Shan had a great time playing the camp games, getting dressed up and doing all the crafts that the councilors had set up for them. We left early Sunday to go down to the Rock Gardens at the Royal Botanical Gardens and placed a stone from Camp Ooch by the Fairy Princes Falls. Shania would have loved to been at the James Fund retreat and we felt that this was a way to bring a bit of Camp Ooch to her. The Rock gardens are closed for the season now until next spring, but we are planning on going to the RBG on Shania's birthday and maybe have a picnic with Shania's favorite meal Loblaws Chicken and wedgies. They have paths through the wooded trails there and you can feed the birds and squirrels right from your hands. Hopefully the weather is good. Reesor Park School is having a memorial tree planting ceremony for Shania on Monday November 5Th, they are going to have a large garden stone with an engraving saying "In honour of Shania Ida Johnston our Sunflower of Hope Nov 07 1998-July 19 2007" It will be at the front entrance of the school. The tree will be a Serviceberry, which has beautiful white spring flowers and is very fragrant. Thank you Reesor Park School/community/family for honouring our Shania in this way. Shania would be very proud of this honour. This school was her home away from home, she loved everything about it, She wanted to be a teacher when she grew up and I think this is a reflection of this School and its beautiful people. Karen,Shannon and I are looking forward to going out to peterborough this weekend to do the Walk/Run for the James Fund. If anyone is interested in sponsoring us for this great cause go to http://www.runningroom.com/
Take care
Love Shayne,Karen and Shannon