Joan Harrington, a grandmother and a pillar of the local community, was surprised with a Random Act of Kindness from our BarrieToday team.
Joan's daughter, Jenn Mills, nominated her for this well-deserved recognition, citing her mother's selflessness and generosity.
She shared, "What stands out about Joan is that she always puts others first without expecting anything in return. She is warm, youthful at heart but full of wise wisdom!”
Joan's journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. She cared for her late husband until he passed away in 2005.
Undeterred by life's challenges, she immersed herself in her community, joining classes and contributing to various charitable causes.
She even joined the Princess Margaret's Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 200km race completed over two days.
“A number of people in my life have passed away from cancer, so it is a cause close to my heart,” Joan shared.
“When my daughter encouraged me to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer, I initially said, ‘no way!’ But I did it. And it was such a rewarding experience.”
Not only did Joan complete this enormous personal challenge, she also inspired her local community to give and raised a remarkable $10,000 for cancer research.
Joan later faced her own cancer diagnosis and received the all-clear four years ago, remaining in good health since.
Jenn reflected, “My mom struggled with cancer and beat it. Her story and attitude inspires others and gives them hope that they too can rise above their challenges and live a happy life.”
Joan's kindness extends beyond her community involvement. She also goes above and beyond for her family, caring for her elderly mother and spoiling her grandchildren.
Last week, Joan thought she was just meeting up with her daughter for a coffee and a catch-up when the BarrieToday team surprised her with a token of gratitude: a gift certificate to the Bradford Greenhouses Garden Gallery, a place where she can nurture her passion for gardening.
“I was so overwhelmed and humbled by the Random Act of Kindness,” Joan shared. “It was so wonderful. And I love my gift. Thank you!”
Joan’s resilience and generosity is an inspiration to many and a reminder of the impact that one person can have on their community.
Thank you to our generous co-sponsors, Bradford Greenhouses Garden Gallery, for helping to make this Random Act of Kindness possible.
If you know someone in the community who deserves recognition for their selfless actions, positivity in the face of hardship, or just for being a great person, you can nominate them for a Random Act of Kindness award. Fill out our nomination form today!
If you would like to support our Random Acts of Kindness program, please email [email protected].
BarrieToday is proud to make a difference in our community by highlighting extraordinary individuals and organizations with our Random Acts of Kindness, a foundational piece of our BarrieToday Cares program.
The BarrieToday Cares team's mission is to create meaningful change in Barrie - and inspire others to do the same.
