My Menopause Blog

For Immediate Release

Sue Richards has always paved her own way. Whether helping to pioneer the Hillside Festival, bringing Art Jam to the schools or promoting women’s health through the Breast of Canada calendar, her independent creativity has made waves in the community. That holds true now in her struggle with Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed two years ago. Dissatisfied with mainstream medicine, which offers no cure, she is taking an alternative treatment based on Asian medicine. “Many recoveries have been documented using this treatment,” she says. “According to the people at Parkinson’s Recovery, I’m on the right track.”

It would not be possible without a lot of help from her friends. Salt Spring Island-based ”Mysticssippi” blues man Harry Manx is one of them. When in town earlier this year, he suggested performing a benefit concert. Richards’ friends shifted into gear and started organizing it. Manx and local talent will be performing on Saturday, June 13 at the Guelph Little Theatre (tickets at helpingfriends.ca).

Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. Now he is also an essential link between Richards and the resources to keep going.

“I met Sue Richards through my good friend Tannis Slimmon,” says Manx. “She promoted a show for me in her backyard and packed the place with all her friends. I noticed that she devoted a fair amount of her time to the fight against Breast Cancer. Her generosity made a strong impression on me. But more importantly she
is a friend, I love her. It’s an honor to be of assistance.”

All funds raised go to help Richards pay for healing and living expenses. ”He’s playing the Guelph Little Theatre three days after playing Massey Hall in Toronto,” she says. “The fact that he’d do that for me… Well, that’s true generosity.”

Richards has seen her quality of life steadily decline. But according to Parkinson’s Recovery, things get worse before they get better. “I feel I’m mid-way through. I’m touching bottom but see a steady climb ahead,” says Richards. She walks only with a walker, has difficulty reading and preparing a meal can be a major logistical operation. Because of her working life spent in the arts, she has no private disability insurance, is ineligible for Canada Pension and is unable to accept government assistance. “What keeps me going is friends and a firm belief that I’ll get through this.”

Harry Helps Sue, Saturday June 13, 7:30 pm, $30. Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris Street.

Also helping Sue: Tannis Slimmon & the Uplifters, Brenda McMorrow, Jessy Bell-Smith, with emcee Jane Miller, magic by Ben Caesar, piano by Jeremy Shute and a photo exhibition by the Guelph Photo Club. Tickets at Wild Rose 519-763-2233, Ground Floor Music 519-827-1444, online at helpingfriends.ca .