Small Business Owners with BIG Hearts

Update: Thank you so much! The love and support coming in from all over is overwhelming and so appreciated. Thank you. So much!

If you have ever had the chance to meet John and Nicole Moore you know that you are in the presence of truly kind, genuine, caring people who always seem to have a smile on their face. Those of you who have encountered them know that you always walk away from a conversation with them thinking “wow, what NICE people who work so hard for others” and other times “how can they do ALL that and still be so pleasant?”.

Some of you may know John and Nicole from the Junior Baker, their gluten free bakery in downtown Sarnia, that they started almost 20 years ago to help manage their daughter Kyrsten’s celiac diagnosis. They have helped so many in our community with delicious baked goods, by providing invaluable advice to families struggling with new allergies or by simply lending a kind, listening ear. Some of you may know them because of their annual Epilepsy Fundraiser when they raise funds to help families in Sarnia who need to get to London for treatment. And some of you may know them because they have been a fixture in downtown Sarnia for almost 20 years and are such strong supporters of our downtown. They use their social media to tirelessly promote other small businesses and charities. This generous couple has truly been “paying it forward” for over 20 years.

John and Nicole are also the parents to two amazing children, Krysten who is 25 years old and Johnny who is 20 years old. Krysten is medically fragile with many diagnoses, but Lenox Gastuat Syndrome is the most concerning.

Unfortunately, in August 2021, John had a stroke and refused to go to the hospital because he was finishing an order for one of their regular customers. Then later that August, John had another major stroke and that’s when a large hole was discovered in his heart. On April 29, 2023, John had heart surgery to close the large hole in his heart.

John and Nicole planned to close the bakery for 6 weeks while John recovered from his surgery, but sadly, he was then diagnosed with cancer – melanoma satellitosis - on his head. John's cancer is Stage 3 and is very aggressive. He will need to undergo treatments for one year. The road ahead is uncertain for them.

At this time, John is unable to work and without a baker, the bakery cannot operate, which means Nicole is also left without an income source. As self-employed business owners, the bakery is their entire livelihood.

John and Nicole were prepared to weather the storm for 6 weeks while John recovered from his heart surgery. But this new diagnosis has left them with a lot of questions about the future and at this time, they do not know how long they will be unable to work.

How you can help - Funds raised will be used to help support John, Nicole, Krysten and Johnny with living expenses, travel for John to get treatment, medicine for John, care for Krysten, rent and utilities for the bakery – so that John and Nicole have a business to return to when John is able to bake again. John may be able to return to the bakery periodically over the next year while he undergoes treatment, but things are not certain.

John, Nicole, Krysten and Johnny need our help. If you can, please consider donating to this amazing family. It would be so wonderful if we could help alleviate one tiny bit of their stress while they worry about the important stuff – John’s health and recovery.

Thank you so much.