Odds, Sods & Nods: Some Nods

Well, after writing a few columns now, I thought it was time to follow up with the third part of my column title, Nods.

As I see it (sorry, I couldn’t resist), Shakespeare once said “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”. I also believe that greatness finds people whether they are looking for it or not. The “Nods” this week are for people who have not looked for greatness, do not consider themselves great and if you asked them, they would say that there are others they know who are great. I will only be referring to them by first name. Some you may know, some you may not.

My first person to tell you about is a fellow by the name of Isaac. Because of an event in his personal life, he got involved with ‘Music For Hope’(website: http://www.musicforhope.ca/) to help raise funds for the fight against Cancer and from putting an event together, booking acts and the venue and for the first time running, raised over $13,000. He then got involved in another project shortly after that as co-chair for the Cancer Relay for Life, bringing the event to Fort Saskatchewan for the first time and raising over $80,000. He is a family man and well respected in the community. Oh, did I mention he is a Correctional Peace Officer?

My second person is a woman who has great sense of family, named Doreen. She has always been there for her family and friends whenever they have needed comfort or support. Whether it be a cup of coffee, a meal, a visit or a place to put their head for a few days, she is always there, with a smile on her face. Ask any of her many grandchildren or even her great-grandchildren, they will tell you that she means the world to them and asks nothing in return. Did I mention that she lost two of her five children to cancer and one to an aneurysm? Or that she is in her late seventies? (A gentleman never reveals a lady’s age) or that she’s celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary this September? (Her first husband died from cancer).

My third ‘Nod’ goes to Dave. A very friendly, unassuming fellow who has decided to run marathons, not just because he wants to stay in shape, but because of his brother Stuart’s (no, not me) association with the Robin Hood Association (http://robinhoodassoc.com/index.html) and the programs they offer.

His dream is to run the Edmonton Derby Marathon on August 19 to help raise funds for them. You can help him by contacting for more information at counterwgt@gmail.com. He is also helping another organization, ABC Head Start (http://www.abcheadstart.org) that helps give children nutritious snacks who otherwise might not have them. Dave is also running in October. Did I mention he turns 60 shortly?

My last ‘Nod’ goes to Margaret. She and her husband have fostered dogs and now foster children. She has made a difference in over twenty-five children who have been born as premature or from parents with drug or alcohol issues. She has helped them thrive, overcome various issues that they have had and impacted them and their families in a very positive way. She and her husband were foster parents of the year a couple years ago (they didn’t ask for it, their agency nominated them).

They are also a model for what a foster home should do. Margaret prepares photo albums for the children so they start their life with a history of how they were growing up. This is on top of raising three wonderful children, one of whom is getting married this weekend. Did I also mention she has been in a choir for 25 years?