2020

Seven years now since mum passed away. During her seven months of being ravaged by the disease CALLED Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.

David Tamagi and I videoed and documented my mum’s illness along the way. I can’t mention David without saying earlier this year he sadly passed away from brain cancer, he was loved by us all and will be greatly missed. A special thank you to him for all he did during those months.

I had thought I could edit all the footage after watching David’s editing work for many years, alas the artistry of an editor is not to be for the faint hearted.

  Now with the help of Nigel Edwards, we have compiled the footage plus with old slides, and 8mm film to make a little show to celebrate our mum, grandmother, friend and lover, Suzanne Rayment, Suzie Q, Suzie sunflower. Suzanne Copp, Sue Copp the Copp family!

Best of all I would like to celebrate my mum's sunny attitude toward what ever came her way, she smiled through adversity because she knew if you take life too seriously you won’t get out alive? LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL was her motto.  She taught me we have the freedom to choose and to accept what ever comes our way.  To smile and rise above was the choice my mum made through her life. Mum would have liked to be put down as she named assisted dying. Because For mum knowing this illness would leave her speechless, without a smile being locked into her own body, not being able to breathe slowly having the life squeezed away was “horror “ she said.

Everyday is a blessing, every day, every hour to the minute to our last breathe.

Mum’s KBO, keep buggering on, attitude through thick and thin carried me strong during these seven years of regrouping myself.  I married and then quickly crashed into a shattering divorce, moved and travelled too many times to think about. Keeping mums words in mind that everyday is a blessing and to thank our lucky stars, helped keep my focus. I am Forever aware we can be diagnosed one day and die a few months later.

Having this opportunity to do this fundraiser, and to look outside my immediate bubble has expanded my overall wellness. We have one hand to help ourselves and one to help others.

Thank you and Please Click on The Link Below to Watch our Tribute Film, and If you can spare a donation for the ALS Society of BC on behalf of Mum, we would truly appreciate it!

xo Andrea Copp