Hello Everyone,

This is an urgent appeal to help a cherished member of our local Suzuki community, Pierre Gagnon, a violin teacher who has been teaching for the Oakville Suzuki Association for more than 40 years.

Pierre, 72, is currently in the hospital undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for stage 4 prostate cancer. Doctors have recently discovered a fracture in his hip that prevents him from walking. Alone and in pain, he’s eager to return home to be with his wife, Susan, as he battles the disease and to continue teaching his students for as long as he can.

But Pierre’s been told that he cannot be discharged until they get a wheelchair stairlift. The equipment, expected to cost approximately $18,000 is not covered by government funding.

Susan — herself a member of Oakville’s Suzuki family since the 1980s — is desperately trying to raise money for a stairlift so that Pierre can return home as soon as possible and live in peace and dignity.

We wanted to let you know about their challenge, and to ask you to consider donating what you can to help them offset part of the cost of the stairlift. Please do not feel obligated to contribute but If you feel moved to do so, any amount you can offer would be welcome and very much appreciated.

Thank you.