Luke Heard & Friends Just Delivered A Bunch Of Christmas Gifts To Kids At PRHC Hospital

Twenty-seven-year-old Luke Heard is well known in the community for all he does to give back. But this gift he just delivered to kids at PRHC might top them all. Heard had the idea to do a toy drive for children at PRHC hospital in Peterborough after recently staying there during treatment for his own fight against cancer.

"When I was in the hospital, I was bored and went for a walk," Heard tells PTBOCanada. "I saw little kids walking with their parents pulling IV units around. I felt bad for them having to spend time in the hospital, so I made a few calls to my friends to devise a plan."

Luke Heard getting ready to deliver gifts

On Thursday (December 22nd), here's what he did with friends...

"I decided I should make a difference in this community and roll in the hospital with teddy bears and toys flying to see those kids smile! Smiles are the cure for everything. There was a little girl in there that just melted everyone's heart. I'm not gunna lie—I cried a bit and so did everyone else!"

Pictured below is Heard (dressed as Tigger) and his pals (Pooh, Spider-Man and Elsa) at the hospital dressed up to deliver the presents...

Heard's favourite quote is this and he continues to live his life this way during his treatments:

"Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."

On January 6th, there is a fundraiser for Luke at Trentwinds International Centre. More info on that can be found here.

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Two Suspects Hiding In A Snowbank Greeted By Peterborough Police K9 Wolfe

Canadian winters are no obstacle for Peterborough K9 Wolfe. Over the weekend, Wolfe was instrumental in several arrests made by Peterborough Police. First Wolfe helped the K9 unit catch two guys who were hiding in a snowbank following a stolen vehicle, break and enter incident at the Peterborough Medical Clinic. Later, he did a vehicle search where he located a large amount of drugs.

Constable Tim Fish with Wolfe (Peterborough Police supplied photo)

This speaks to the importance of the police K9 unit—which was first formed in 1997—in helping nab the bad guys. These police service dogs are extremely hardworking, intelligent animals who help the police in all sorts of situations and put themselves out there in order to protect their human partners. In 2015, the Canine Unit participated in a total of 1,385 calls for service, of which 107 were specific canine calls.

Wolfe, who helps on many calls, is a German Shepherd—a breed chosen for their physical ability, strength and intelligence. A strong temperament is very important as these dogs are expected to perform in stressful situations. Wolfe was imported from Kentucky, and was purchased by the Knights of Columbus and donated to the service. His expertise includes narcotic detection, tracking, agility, article search, building search, open search, chase and apprehension and handler protection.

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Peterborough's Kate Suhr Dressed Up As Ariel For An Ennismore Girl At Sick Kids Hospital

Three-year-old Ennismore child Eliza Grace Payne is battling leukemia at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. She is a spirited and brave child who loves Disney princesses.

Her aunt is well known local musician Melissa Payne, who happens to be good friends with Kate Suhr—an actress/musician from Peterborough who is playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid theatre production at the Randolph Centre for the Arts in Toronto. Kate and Melissa got to talking and came up with the idea of Kate dropping by the hospital in character as Ariel to lift Eliza's spirits.

Eliza with her parents Chris and Mary, with Ariel (Kate Suhr)

So after her show on Sunday (December 11th), Kate went to the hospital with her stage manager from the show dressed as Ariel and surprised Eliza, who was with her parents Mary and Chris. She stayed in character the whole time.

Kate tells PTBOCanada it was one of those special days she will never forget. "Eliza is just so brave," she tells us. "I'm so grateful to have met her. Her and her parents are superheroes. I won't ever forget this day."

Swimming down the hall with Eliza

Kate, who has been reflecting a lot lately on why this happens to such young kids, tells PTBOCanada she wants to return to the hospital as Ariel again to put a smile on more kids' faces and give them hope. She wants to help them, and this is such a powerful, tangible way of doing so. She sees the impact it has, the sense of magic and awe it creates.

A hug from a Princess to Eliza...

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A Petes Player Scored A Hat Trick, Look At What His Billet Family Did For Him

Steve Lorentz file photo (via Peterborough Petes)

On Thursday night (December 8th), Peterborough Petes veteran forward Steve Lorentz scored a hat trick in the Petes 5-3 home victory over the Ottawa 67s.

Only one hat was thrown onto the ice when Steve Lorentz scored his hat trick tonight, so his billet family did this. #PetesNation pic.twitter.com/MigF3nIhKI

— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) December 9, 2016

Only one fan threw a hat onto the ice in recognition of Steve's hat trick accomplishment, so when the Carolina Hurricanes prospect arrived home his billet family surprised him by leaving a bunch of hats on his bed.

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14-Year-Old Lakefield Girl Has Made Over 2,500 Cuddle Blankets For People In Need Around World

When she was only 9 years old, Faith Dickinson created Cuddles for Cancer, which makes signature fleece tie blankets for cancer patients going through treatments— hoping they provide some comfort, warmth and love.

Faith had the idea to make the blankets after she made one for her Aunt Lyndi in Alberta who had breast cancer, and now also makes them for soldiers and veterans to provide them comfort.

Over the past four and a half years, the 14-year-old Grade 9 student at TASSS in Peterborough has made over 2,500 Cuddle blankets for adults and children around the world.

Those blankets have been sent all across Canada, the United States, England, France, Australia, Africa, Germany, Poland, the Ukraine, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and Brazil.

This year, her 4th Annual Kids at Christmas Campaign has started where you can sponsor a Child for $50 and they receive a Cuddle blanket. Faith asks families, schools, churches, businesses and other organizations to sponsor a child for $50.

This ensures that every child admitted to the PRHC (Peterborough Regional Health Centre) over Christmas receives a Cuddle blanket. The name of the sponsor is included on the letter that accompanies the Cuddle blanket. Blankets are delivered on December 23rd every year.

Faith delivering cuddle blanket to patient

Following the delivery at PRHC, Faith visits Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto each year and delivers Cuddle blankets to children on the Oncology Unit there. Last year, enough donations were raised to also donate Cuddle blankets to children on the Bone Marrow Unit at Sick Kids.

Since starting Cuddle for Cancer, Faith has emerged as a youth leader in Canada. She won the Me to We Youth in Action award in 2015 and more recently was chosen as one of 100 visionary leaders by a publication.

"Faith is a very compassionate soul," her mom Cassie tells PTBOCanada. "She's very thoughtful and empathetic to what others are going through. She very much wants to make a difference in the world and encourage other youth to get involved locally and globally."

Faith pictured with her proud parents Cassie & Mike

Faith's goal this year is to make 300 Cuddle blankets for the Kids at Christmas Campaign. Help her reach her goal:

Donations can be made three ways:

-> email transfer to cuddlesforcancer@hotmail.com (please include the password)

-> donations can be made at Peterborough FabricLand on Chemong Street

-> send a donation to Cuddles for Cancer, PO Box 1317, Lakefield, ON. K0L 2H0 (cheques can be made out to "Cuddles for Cancer")

Please give what you can and spread the word on your social media channels.

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Peterborough's Luke Heard Is 27 Years Old, He Was Just Diagnosed With Lung Cancer

Luke Heard

UPDATE (November 30th):

A benefit has been planned for Luke Heard at Trentwinds International Centre on Friday, January 6th, starting at 8 pm. Details on this Facebook event page.

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ORIGINAL POST

Luke Heard is well known in Peterborough for constantly giving back to community—from raising money for special needs hockey to helping families in need with his Halloween Haunted Houses. In October 2013, he was a hero, pulling a woman from a burning van in Peterborough.

Luke has a tremendous spirit for community and helping others. And now, the Peterborough community is rallying behind him as he deals with the heartbreaking news that at age 27, he has lung cancer.

He wrote the following in a heartfelt Facebook post on Monday (November 28th)...

Luke Heard skating with Electric City Maroon & White special needs team

"My friends are the people who hold me up when I can't go any further and my family is the key to helping me stay positive," Heard tells PTBOCanada. "If I didn't have any of them, I would be alone and left to fight this struggle by myself."

Heard tells PTBOCanada he smoked for eight years, but quit two weeks ago, and the doctors aren't sure if it's smoke related. "I go for surgery this week to determine everything and see how bad it is," he tells PTBOCanada.

Luke has lost a dramatic amount of weight in the past month and a half (picture via his Facebook page)

Luke wrote this in an earlier Facebook post about his health, accompanying the above "before and after" photos:

Luke tells PTBOCanada his favourite quote of all time:

"Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."

Luke Heard embodies that quote. Our prayers are with him through this battle.

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The Buck Family Wins 2016 Farm Family Of The Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have announced the Buck family, of 1576 Centre Line, Norwood as the 2016 Farm Family of the Year.

Jim and Barb Buck have been farming for 42 years. Their 375-acre farm includes 35 head Black Angus beef cattle and 40 head replacement Holstein heifers. They also harvest hay for feed and several horse farms, soybeans, and mixed grain and/or wheat.

Barb and Jim Buck, their four daughters, and son-in-law: Front (L-R): Barb and Jim Buck; Back (L-R): Amanda Buck, Ashley Buck, Tim Haan, Jamie Buck, Julia Haan  

They raised four daughters—Julia, Amanda, Jamie, and Ashley—who provided tremendous help and support, and they are now proud grandparents to Madeline (Julia and Tim).

Over the years, the Bucks have earned numerous awards and recognitions, including the Peterborough County Agricultural Award, Peterborough County Plowman’s Award, Peterborough County Forage Master’s Award, 10-year 4-H Leader Pin/Award, and Holstein Canada 30-year Breeders Pin. They have also won several milk quality certificates.

Jim and Barb are active volunteers in the farming community. Jim is the secretary/treasurer of the Peterborough County Soil & Crop Improvement Association, past president of the East Central District SCIA, a 4-H Crops Leader, and chairman of the Heavy Horse Show & Field Crops Competition at the Norwood Fair. Barb is a member of the Norwood Fair Homecraft Division, past social convenor at Trinity United Church in Hastings, and past committee member of the Peterborough County Queen of the Furrow. 

The Bucks have been members of East Gen for 40 years.  They frequently donate baking and farm product for fundraisers by local community groups, including the 4-H Club, Lions Club, Trinity United Church and the Norwood Fair Board.

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Trent University Student Zach Baranowski Has Instagram Account With 10,000+ Fans

Zach Baranowski

Zach Baranowski, a 4th year Geography student at Trent University, has a hit Instagram account that has accumulated 10,500 fans since launching in Summer 2015.

Baranowski, a self-taught photographer, has a passion for the outdoors, the environment and promoting conservation which is displayed in his stunning photography of Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

"I attempt to inspire others to not only get active and outdoors but to fully appreciate and respect the wild world around them," Zach tells PTBOCanada of the photography on his Instagram account.

Train bridge hammock, photo by Zach Baranowski

"My motivation to create things came from my Dad who was always making things with his hands, building things, and taking photos both digital and on film," Zach says.

Warsaw Caves cracks, by Zach Baranowski

Zach tells PTBOCanada that he believes photography is a great instrument to effect positive change:

"Looking at photographers such as Ansel Adams, Paul Nicklen and Chris Burkard, I saw how photography could be a powerful tool to create change. I had always been amazed by this planet, and with how a single photo could share a moment or experience, tell a story, or inspire an idea. I wanted to share this with others."

Biking at Harold Town conservation area, photo by Zach Baranowski

Zach gets thousands of likes on his Instagram posts, and says the social media platform has been great for his work as it helps him connect with thousands of like-minded people who share his message.

Getting a great capture doesn't always mean travelling a great distance sometimes you can find it literally in your backyard. I almost missed this amazing sunset last night but when I took a glance out my window I rushed outside just in time.

See this Instagram photo by @zbaranowskiphotography * 1,289 likes

Generally a good amount of planning goes into a lot of my photos and trips, but this spontaneous late night camping trip a couple weeks ago was a nice mid-week break #arcteryxyorkdale

See this Instagram photo by @zbaranowskiphotography * 1,549 likes

"The landscape of Peterborough and the Kawarthas and its surrounding area has always amazed me both as a photographer and a geographer," he says.

Zach loves all the hiking trails and conservation areas in the Kawarthas, but a favourite is the Warsaw Caves area, which provides dramatic landscapes...

photo by Zach Baranowski

photo by Zach Baranowski

photo by Zach Baranowski

Naturally, being a Trent student, he also posts beautiful pictures of the campus...

photo by Zach Baranowski

photo by Zach Baranowski

Follow him on Instagram to view more of Zach's awesome photos.

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