One last trip

When Caleb Hawkins met then-12-year-old Michael Michon six years ago, he was inspired by the youth’s strength as he had recently won a battle with cancer.

At nine years old, Michael was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. After rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, he was cancer-free for eight years.

Hawkins, a local singer-songwriter – who took home the top prize in Thunder Bay’s inaugural songwriter’s contest in 2006, wrote a song inspired by Michael’s fighting spirit.

Since then the two hadn’t kept in regular contact, but Hawkins recently heard that Michael was sick again.

In April 2011, he was re-diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, this one much more aggressive than the last, said his mother Donna Michon.

“They basically told me at Sick Kids that there was nothing that could be done,” she said.

She asked his doctors if there was something else they could at least try, so Michael endured more radiation and chemo.
But on Nov. 30, they discovered the cancer had spread; the treatment had failed.

“They don’t give him more than a year,” Michon said.

The Michon family, which includes parents Donna and Mike, Michael and his five siblings travelled to Disney World after Michael was first diagnosed nine years ago. They had to cut their trip short because he fell ill and they never made it to Universal Studios.

“He was so bent on Universal,” said Michon. “He never got to experience that. He has not mentioned Walt Disney World. He hasn’t mentioned Marine Land. He just keeps saying ‘we’ve got to go back to Universal. We’ve got to go back.’”

Now that Michael is 18, he no longer qualifies for the Make a Wish Foundation, and it’s an expensive trip for a family of eight.
When Hawkins heard about Michael’s condition, he immediately wanted to pitch in and started to organize a benefit concert on Jan. 27 to help raise money to send the Michons to Universal Studios in Florida.

The response has been overwhelming, he said, noting that from the first five minutes after he posted the event on Facebook he started receiving emails non-stop.

“For the first three hours, I was just responding to people’s emails of wanting to help whether it was donations or volunteering their time to help with the benefit” said Hawkins, adding there was no shortage of musicians offering to perform at the benefit.

Local artists signed up to play the show so far include Rodney Brown, Tracy K, John Cornell and Les Henderson, Dave Jonasson, Dave Campbell and the Keycutters and Katie Zugic. Comedian Moccasin Joe is also slated to perform some stand-up.

Michon said she thinks the benefit is an awesome idea and she can’t thank everybody who is participating enough, especially Hawkins.

“He’s been wonderful. I’m very appreciative. I thank the people who are taking part in this,” she said.

The benefit concert starts at 8 p.m. on  Jan. 27 at Crocks. Tickets are $5 and can be bought at the door or in advance at Ozone, the Bean Fiend, the Urban Boutique, Extreme Pita and Crocks.