It was an "Elbows Up" Musicathon

Dana Bachman, Fenelon Falls Grannies for Grannies,

Last Saturday, April 12th, was the 12th annual Musicathon organized by the Fenelon Falls Grannies for Grannies. Funds raised from this event went to the Stephen Lewis Foundation-Grandmothers Campaign which raises funds to help African grandmothers, who are caring for millions of children orphaned by AIDS.

We advertised it as bigger and better than ever and it was, with over 65 local musicians. This year's Musicathon was unique in another way. It morphed into an "Elbows Up" Music Marathon. How? Why? This year our audience was smaller, perfectly understandable, given all the consequences of our terrible ice storm. We had a smaller audience but we raised almost $2,000 more than the previous year.

“Elbows Up,” for those who are not familiar with term, refers to a hockey move orginated by Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe. Mr. Howe was known for his toughness and use of elbows on the ice. The phrase "Elbows up" is now being used to encourage Canadians to stand up to the United States. The movement itself describes themselves as a family-friendly, non-partisan group celebrating Canada’s strength, unity, and resilience.

The “Elbows Up” Music Marathon was hosted in response to Trump stopping 'U.S. Aid to Africa,' this years audience, in addition to their admission price, gave generously. Despite this time of hardship to themselves: having to restock their freezers with hundreds of dollars of meat, the out-of-pocket $1,000 deductible on their insurance, and having to pay to have trees cut down and removed, donations of 5, 10, 20 or even 50 dollars were given.

It wasn't just the admission donations which showed an "Elbows Up" attitude, our performers demonstrated that attitude as well. The amazing reUnion choir, of over twenty voices strong, asked the audience to stand together and sing "O Canada." That was a special emotional moment. One group, 'Fiddles and Friends,' led by Edith Hawkins, performed a fiddle song from each province of Canada and finished up with a Metis tune from Quebec! You couldn't get more Canadian than that. The group, 'Providence Road,' with Gratton Young, performed "This Land Is Your Land" and asked the audience to sing along.

"Elbows Up" Fenelon Falls, and thank you, to our community's generosity, showing, while even during a crisis themselves, they could think of supporting others, in Africa, suffering from HIV/AIDS.