"Symbolic of cleansing, frogs can remind us to honour our tears, to continue to sing our song and bask in the sun, open to the supports surrounding us with the knowing that we are imbued with the light of those we love and have lost."

For some time I had been wishing for a meaningful way to honour Nora Parker, a childhood friend of my daughter's, who passed away from an incurable brain cancer. Nora's mother Joelle and I reconnected on a rainy walk by the lake. As we were talking about some of Nora’s favourite things (hot salsas, the colour green, her camp (Camp Fire Circle)....we came across a large luminous green frog on our path, glistening in the green grass, as if listening attentively.

I set a quiet intention in that moment to find a way to support Campfire Circle and by divine timing, an invitation to participate in 'The Paddle Project' came to me unexpectedly the very next day. The date of the paddle submission would have been Nora's 15th 'champagne' birthday no less.

(Camp Fire Circle is a privately funded charity that brings laughter and joy to kids and families affected by childhood cancer. It is a year-round community, in-hospital and overnight camp programs deliver fun, friendship and a sense of community at any stage of a childhood cancer journey. Donate here. )