Jo's quest 4 National Sledge team

This year I have had the pleasure of Meeting Joanne Evans.   Joanne is well known in the ladies hockey community.  She has been playing  ladies hockey for years.  Watching Joanne on the ice is a story that must be shared.  She is an inspiration to all, a fighter and a Wonder women.   A few years ago in 2007 , while playing goalie at one of her games she fell ill.   Not really sure what was wrong, she found herself in the hospital fighting for her life.   She was diagnosed as having “Encephalitis” this is a sudden on set of inflammation of the brain “, causing some serious symptoms including headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, fatigue,seizures or convulsions, tremors, hallucinations, stroke, and memory problems.  Unfortunately Joanne’s life had come to a full stop.   “Encephalitis  caused her serve memory loss, cognitive loss, mobility issues and was now having to use a wheel chair.   Joanne had lost the ability to do everything we do every day and most likely take for granted.  During her struggle to get healthy again, Joanne endured the challenge of learning how to walk, gain her memory back and simple tasks such as using a computer and learning to talk again.  Her one desire during her recovery was to get better and get back out on the ice.  After 6 long months in the hospital and months ,turned to years,  her pure determination and will power Joanne was on her way back and playing hockey again.  With the help of her friends and teammates, she would arrive to the rink in her wheel chair,  dressed with all her equipment and ready to go, Joanne found the strength and the courage to get back in net.  Patiently she regained her strength and ability to hold her own again  in net.   Today with the help of a cane, Joanne walks in to the arena.  She is grateful for all the help and support she continues to receive from her teammate.
This past month, while playing net at a game, one of her teammate’s Sami Jo ( former Gold Olympic winner)  was impressed by Joanne’s goalie skills, and happened to notice that she was using a cane, Sami Jo ask Joanne if she had every played Sledge Hockey.  Of Course Joanne said no. Little did Joanne know, but three days later she was invited to try out for the “Canadian National Women's Sledge Hockey Team” .  Honoured and on a high, feeling  so grateful for this opportunity, there was one problem , Joanne’s regular goalie hockey equipment is not the same and would not work for Sledge hockey.  Lucky for Joanne , Sami Jo's Husband Billy Bridges (4 time Para Olympic Gold medal winner on the Canadian Mens Sledge hockey team) arranged to lend her equipment .  Joanne’s excellent goalie skills, impressed the coaches and players and Joanne has been invited back to participate in the upcoming camps.  What an incredible and priceless experience Joanne has been given.
Joanne is now  57 years old , Single,  a Mother of 3 and Grandmother to 1.  Her life has not been easy, unfortunately with her sickness and disability, she has been unable to work and is now on a government assisted plan which doesn't allow for her to be able buy a lot of extras.   Participating at the camps of the would mean Joanne having to have a specially designed Sledge , modified skates, modified hockey pads and Stick.  All this costing in the range of $2000.00 plus. To attend team camps she would have to pay minium of $150.  
As I mentioned before, Joanne is an inspiration,  and I am honoured to be friends with her. With a little help from all her friends, family and fellow hockey players, lets help her get  Money together to have her represent our Country “Canada “  in sledge Hockey. 

Go Joanne Go !