HOME COMING

Dad was given a gerbera daisy yesterday that stayed on his bike for the whole journey and released it into the Atlantic.  The daisy was in memory of a dear friend (Lindsay) of Barb and Gordie Miller's (Dad's hosts in Truro) son and daughter in law's who passed away from cancer in February.  Lindsay had requested to have lots and lots of gerbera daisies at her service and Barb and Gordie planted the daisies for her this summer in their flower pots.

Dad, Brian and George left Truro to cycle to Halifax and were joined by Ray Hannabury around Stewiache.  They were met on the side of the road by Ron Jackson.  A Tim Hortons meeting was arranged.  Ron went ahead to Tim Hortons in Dartmouth and telling the storey about dad, coffee and muffins were on the house for the cycling group.  Patrons at Tim's gave contributions to dad for his journey.  A picture was taken of dad and the staff of Tim Hortons.

Connor and Nathan (grandsons) and Joe (son-in-law) joined in the ride at the top of Point Pleasant Park where they all cycled down to the bottom to Black Rock Beach.  Dad entered the Park with a grandson on each side to a row of gleaming Russel Metal trucks all honking their horns and over 200 people waiting to greet him.  He continued cycling and went to the beach where he "dipped his wheels."  Geoff Regan, MP Halifax West, was on hand to greet dad upon his arrival and dad was presented with a House of Commons Certificate for cycling coast to coast.

Representatives from the Cancer Society and  the QEII Foundation were at the Park to welcome dad home.  Dad presented two cheques for $13,000 each.  One to the QEII Foundation - Thyroid Oncology and the other to the NS Canadian Cancer Society.

A welcome home BBQ was hosted by Trinity United Church.  Mom, my sister, April and I wanted to have a BBQ to welcome dad home and thank all who supported him.  In the United Church fashion they all wanted to pitch in and help and in the end the congregation did it all and our family was able to sit back and enjoy the event.  THANK YOU is not enough to say, BUT A MILLION THANK YOUS!  This was no small BBQ.  There were three grills going and three tables full of salads.  Over 200 people were on hand to celebrate.

THANK YOU to George Clark and Ray Hannabury who participated in a leg of the ride to raise awareness of thyroid cancer.

Dad's home, but this does not mean the end of the blog.  There is still more to come.