Cancer claims Danny Charles

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Danny Charles battle with cancer is over.

On January 26, Danny Charles died after a long battle with cancer of the liver, and according to his friend, Cher Daniels, "Danny still wants to see the fund raising that was done so he could receive chemotherapy treatments continue to help others who may need money to receive treatments."

The fund raising activities for Charles, started by his friends and caring supporters, were happening - especially in his home town of Leduc and in Edmonton long before this newspaper began to publicize them.

Recently, at the Elks Club in Leduc, many performers came together in support of Danny. A huge jamboree was held at which country entertainers such as Jimmy Arthur Ordge, Mickie Lynn of Blue Denim, Prairie Fire and the Southern Comfort Band put on a show to raise funds.

Other fund raising events were held at the Bonaventure Hotel and at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton.

Cher Daniels believes the fund raising should go on, but would not comment now. "Talk to me in a couple of weeks." she said, and understandably so.

In late December last last year, friends of Danny tracked down something he had wanted to know about for a long time - who his parents and relative were and from where did he come.

Danny was adopted at a very early time in his life by the Big Charles family from the High Prairie area.

Millie (L'Hirondelle) Linsing, after hearing about it through the grapevine, checked into Danny's background and, since she worked for the Mission Historical Society near Lac La Biche, she had the opportunity to check records dating back to the late 1800s. In December, Danny Charles rediscovered his long lost family's history and whereabouts.

Danny's parents were Gilbert Ladouceur and Adele Bourke, both deceased. He also learned he had two brothers. One of them, Raymond Ladouceur, is deceased, but the other brother is living in British Columbia and the two were reunited recently at a family gathering in Edmonton.

Danny Charles was originally from the Plamondon area near Lac La Biche.

His words to Max L'Hirondelle, a longtime friend (and, as a recent check of the records showed, Danny's uncle) after they hugged at the Edmonton International Airport in December when Danny returned from Toronto where he had gone for one of his treatments were, "at least, Max, my life is having a happy ending."

To all of his friends and family, our deepest sympathy goes out to all of you from us here at "Windspeaker."

It is a very sad occasion when we lose a very talented individual and leading role model to all Native and non-Native people across Canada such as Danny Charles.

Danny Charles was buried at Leduc on January 29.