Support Jonny 'Bones' Aaron and Tell Cancer to Kick Rocks

Details to come for the JONNY BONES BENEFIT SHOW at the Rickshaw Theater June 20th!

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Hi folks - Our friend Jon Aaron [that's Jonny Bones to most friends and fiends] needs your help.

The really bad stuff, up front:

Jon has a rare and aggressive form of cancer that started in his vocal cords. It has moved into his lungs and kidney. It is stage four.

On Tuesday, Jon received a terminal diagnosis of 6-12 months.

Although chemo and radiation have been offered, he is told it may only extend his life by up to 8 months and during treatment it will decimate his immune system. He wouldn't be able to be around people, or do the things that he so greatly loves.

So what are we doing? We're going to help our friend alleviate the financial pressures of an incredibly devastating situation, and we're going to make sure he lives his life the way he deserves to live his life, for however long we get to keep him.

More backstory:

For the past year and a half or so Jon has been having some trouble with his voice. If you've spent time with him or seen him do his favourite thing and sing his heart out at a show, you will have noticed his voice has been sounding a little rough, and then a little rougher. Despite his self advocacy and pursuing medical examination and treatment, it took a long time to figure out what was going on. Jon was told that the problem was that he had a herniated vocal cord. That is not true. The thing that's in his throat is an aggressive type of cancer, and it has spread.

On April 16th Jon went to St. Paul's hospital for a biopsy, and instead was given an emergency tracheotomy. He was told he'd be in hospital for a week, which turned in to a month, and then longer.

After finally being allowed to leave St Paul's hospital, Jon has been going to the BC Cancer Society in Abbotsford to learn more about his cancer, about possible treatment options, and to decide a plan of attack. This situation is still unfolding, and I will continue to update here as his needs develop and more information comes available.

What is clear right now is that Jon needs all the relief and support we can muster. He is unable to attend to his career as a Community Support Worker and will not be receiving employment income. Some basic needs will be covered through insurance but there is a great deal of exposure left unaccounted for, not limited to gas and groceries among other monthly expenses. Additionally, he needs medical equipment like a humidifer for his breathing apparatus that is not covered at all through health insurance or MSP - this device alone is around $6000.

For decades Jonny has been a cornerstone of community- and truly he creates community wherever he goes. Through music, radio, cinema, theater and writing, Jon creates safe and inclusive spaces for all ages to come together. He advocates for kindness, for unity, and human-centricity in all of his actions and words. Whether you've seen him perform as the front man of the wildly entertaining Still Spirits; or behind the curtain reviving old creature features in his monthly Horrorshow; or perhaps tuned in to listen to him promote local musicians as the host of SFU's Rad Radio; maybe even had him whip up a t-shirt for you as the founder of Skeletone Printing; or seen him on tour with Evil Dead the Musical...Jonny Bones has touched so many lives and is an immense force of creativity and love.

The so who am I part:

If we haven't met before, my name is Kara, and I thank you for taking the time to read this today and consider donating to help our brother get through. I won't lie and pretend I am not bawling as I write this, and I fear that nothing I can say here will emphasize how truly loved this guy is and the influence he's had on me. Jonny has been a friend of mine for almost 20 years and it boggles my mind that I would be so lucky. The impact this man has had on so, so many others is nothing shy of profound. We are, all of us, left better for having known him, and whether you've met him or not yet I can say with assuredness that he's a friend of yours too. That's just the kinda guy he is.

As more information comes to the forefront I will continue updating this platform, sharing news and photos and milestones. I am working directly with Jon and his nearest and dearest to facilitate this. Jon is the beneficiary and all funds go directly to him.

Thank you.

"be kind to each other"