Joe Toole - Cancer Recovery Fundraiser

Joe Toole (member of The Phantoms, Brokenjoe) a longtime bartender of Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern and Lees Palace recently suffered a stroke. While receiving care, it was discovered that Joe has an aggressive form of stage 4 lung cancer. The metastasis has spread to other parts of his body, including to his vertebrae which is compressing his spine, making the pain threshold unbearable without pain medication.

Coming from New Brunswick, Joe has spent several decades contributing to Toronto's music landscape. From trading licks on stage with Jeff Healey with his band the Phantoms, to playing every Tuesday at Grossman's Tavern with his old-timey blues project Brokenjoe. Joe is now a longtime Lees Palace bartender, giving advice, and forewarnings to up-and-coming musicians, telling tales from his time on the road. Joe and his wife Pamela have long made Toronto their home, and its music community their family.

This fundraiser will go to helping Joe weather the incoming storm, helping him and his wife Pam pay for basic living costs, trips to and from hospital appointments, as well as other costs associated with battling a debilitating form of illness.

Thank you for reading this, for sharing Joe's gofundme link and for your generosity in donating.

A note from Pam;

"Joe is a man as tough as nails, with a soft tender caring heart. He has always shown kindness, generosity and compassion for others. He has always had a passion for music, art, and photography (like his father).

To see my husband Joe have all the pleasures of his life taken away at the hands of a devastating illness is excruciating to watch.

Before Joe's bronchoscopy, he happily agreed to help future lung cancer patients by offering an extra tissue sample from his lungs. This is a small example of Joe's kindness towards his fellow man."