She’s a successful home economist which means that Jennifer MacKenzie is a:
- Cookbook author
- Media Spokesperson
- Food Writer
- Cooking Instructor
- Recipe Editor
- Culinary Consultant
- Recipe Developer and Taster
- Special Event Co-ordinator
You get the picture: she’s a thriving, very successful, very inspiring woman.
photo cred: rebekahlittlejohnphotography
The irony is, Jennifer MacKenzie is not even supposed to be here. She is the girl who lived. A real life Harry Potter (or Henrietta Potter).
Jennifer was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer (even rarer in the 1970’s when she was diagnosed) when she was just over a year old.
Her prognosis was terminal. Her mother’s response to the Doctor’s news, was “I don’t even know how to make funeral arrangements.”
But I think you’ve guessed how it ends, Jennifer was one of the lucky ones and is an adult survivor of neuroblastoma.
I became familiar with neuroblastoma, because of James Birrell. James didn’t survive the rath of the cancer but lived an exceptional eight years. He contributed more in his short time on earth than most of us do in our lifetimes.
James Birrell: The Face and Legacy of The James Fund
The James Fund, created in honour of James Birrell is an international fundraising team dedicated to research and clinical trials to find a cure for neuroblastoma.
Jennifer has been volunteering with the James Fund for years and is an incredible ambassador for the cause. She is a beacon of hope for both the parents and kids battling neuroblastoma, because as mentioned, she’s an adult survivor.
There are other fundraising components to The James Fund, one of which is raising money for the families to help ease the financial burden of having a sick child. One parent usually has to quit work, the hospital visits, the gas, the parking, medication, the list of expenses goes on and on.
It’s one of the reasons why I love the annual NEXICOM James Fund Golf Classic. It raises money to help the families dealing with neuroblastoma and to give the WHOLE family a retreat, literally.
Jenn and hergolf foursome including Reese Little (front right) another neuroblastoma adult survivor at the annual Nexicom James Fund Golf Classic
Get ready to watch this exclusive, “Golf Cart Drive By” with Jennifer Mackenzie along with my team captain and extremely generous businessman, Paul Hickey (owner of Brandhealth) and the Kawartha Golf and Country Club (host of the tournament) Golf Pro, Mark Ahrens. You are sure to cry, laugh and cringe as we aim to show you why this charity golf tournament is considered one of the best and most fun out there. (watch time 6:57)
MF’s Shaky Golfcart DriveBy: Jennifer Mackenzie & The Nexicom …A super shaky, fun, sad and inspiring drive by…in a GOLF CART? You betcha! Buckle up and hopefully we’ll see you June 6th with Jennifer MacKenzie at Kawartha Golf & Country Club with Friends of The James Fund For Neuroblastoma Research Full blog and to hear about Jenn’s story visit –>
Posted by Michelle Ferreri on Friday, May 13, 2016
I really hope you can come! If you can’t come for golf but want to come for oysters, wine, dinner and a great opportunity for amazing silent and live auction items (including a wheelbarrow of wine), we would LOVE to see you! I also happen to emcee the dinner, so I would love to see you there!
Thanks again to all of the sponsors, loyal contributors and the dedicated volunteers who make this happen every year.
Thanks to Paul Hickey for having me on his team and to Mark Ahrens for trying to have patience with my inability to golf and to Jenn for being such a gem!
And to you James Birrell, we may not have kicked cancer’s ass yet, but we’re working on it. You started something special buddy and you said it best “Ya can’t let cancer ruin your day”.
MF
