Dragon Boat Races & Road To Recovery T-Shirts

Hey Everyone! The Dragon Boat Races are going on this weekend and Joel will be hanging out at Wascana Park for some of them. Make sure you call his cell and come meet up or come by Wascana Rehab for a visit! It's going to be a great weekend! Also, we do have the Road to Recovery T-shirts in Brown and Grey. Let us know if you want one! It is the same logo from the posters by Becki Hui that Kenny turned into a t-shirt. They come in S, M, L and XL. Will let you know price shortly!

We Heart George

Jacqui and Richelle had the pleasure of meeting George Stroumboulopoulos of The Hour at "Top Secret" shoot. He noticed the We Heart Joel bracelets and wanted to wear one! Thank you George! Joel says: "Big shout out to ya George...love the show!"
Cheers!

Coming Events!

Here is just a quick update of the past few days. On Saturday Joel had an awesome steak dinner courtesy of the Keg followed by movies and a good sleep. The next day he headed out to see a movie at the Rainbow. Tonight he went to Teppanyaki's for a great dinner and outing and then hung out with Josh for his last night here. As Joel is now able to go some places he will hopefully be able to go to his fundraiser at Baldy's Beach Bar that will be happening very soon! More details will be posted on here soon so please keep checking back! Also a big thanks to everyone who raised money for Joel out at the Regina Beach Campground and again to the Freehouse and to Dominion Construction for hosting a BBQ with all funds going to Joel's Road to Recovey. It's things like that and visits from friends and family that keep things going in such a positive direction. And finally, on a bit of a funnier note, Joel was pictured in an article of the newspaper during the "Pull for Joel" fundraiser that Dawn and the Rowing Club organized. The caption read "Pull for Paul." That's all for the time being but there is lots more to come tomorrow!

Paris Needs to Get Her Own Slogan!

Haha! Proof that Paris Hilton is copying Joel! First she writes all over his blog and now she starts up a "We Heart Paris" campaign.

More Photos!!

Brent Butt and Family at the Benefit and a Bevvy of Hotties after many Bevvies! Also pictured is Virginia Thompson, Executive Producer of Corner Gas, and All-Star Richelle Bourgoin.

Great Couple O Days

So...I have had such a wonderful last couple of days and it was made even better that I could get down to enjoy the Rowing competition and to be able to see everyone who came down to support and donate some sweat to the area. Thanks to everyone who had a part in the "Pull for Joel" fundraiser, especially Dawn who made the magic happen.

And a big thanks to all who showed up for the Corner Gas fundraiser.The support was so overwhelming and incredible that I can't thank everyone enough.I am honestly speechless!

Thinking about you all and keep coming to visit! See you soon!!!!!

Cheers!
Joel

Pulling for Joel!!!

The Regina Rowing Club is having a fundraiser for Joel this weekend, during the Northwest Rowing Regatta. Friends, family and all Joel's supporters are invited to participate - and for those of you that don't know anything about one of Joel's favourite sports -- we'll make sure you learn!!!

Participants will pay $5.00 to pull 250 meters (not very far!) on a rowing training machine. We've got categories for the 'pro rowers' participating in the regatta, but also categories for Joel's friends and family, regatta volunteers, regatta officials (that's Shane's category!). The winner in each category will receive one of Joel's own special "hippo hats", and will have an opportunity to enter for some great participant prizes that the Club has had donated to the fundraiser from businesses throughout the city. For those of you that are REALLY competitive, you're encouraged to come back more than once to improve your score -- for another $5.00, of course!

And your reward -- other than helping Joel???? The Regina Rowing Club has proudly commissioned awesome "WE HEART JOEL" bracelets, and each participant will receive one, each time they pull.

So be sure to drop by the PULL FOR JOEL tent, at the south end of Wascana Lake, just down the park from Wascana Rehab, anytime Friday or Saturday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We're looking forward to seeing everyone there!!!!

Quick Recap

Hi! Just a quick recap of the night for those who couldn't be there last night. The night started with some drinks and appetizers and a meet and greet with Joel in the main lobby of the Globe Theatre. Next was the hilarious read through of the script "Hair Comes the Judge." The cast was amazing but there were a few other standout roles that went to the people in the audience! Scripts were handed out ahead of time to a few people who had to follow along and shout out lines during the reading. Just a few memorables include Kenny as the Stranger at the Ruby, Sara and Alana as teenagers, and of course Shane and his "Keep the Change" line. After the reading some thank-yous were had, and Joel received standing ovations from over 400 people!!!!! Jen was also seated next to Joel, and also received a standing ovation! What a night! Brent Butt then took the mic and raffled off some door prizes including items like a Rider football (signed by the entire team!!!), a gift certificate from the Freehouse, and a cooler full of summer fun (aka B-E-E-R). The night was topped off with more food and drink and chatting! I know Joel wanted to offer his own personal thanks on here later, so stay tuned. And again thank you to all who took part (Virginia Thompson, David Storey, Brent Butt (Brent Leroy), Gabrielle Miller (Lacey Burrows), Fred Ewanuick (Hank Yarbo), Eric Peterson (Oscar Leroy), Janet Wright (Emma Leroy), Tara Spencer-Nairn (Karen Pelly), Lorne Cardinal (Davis Quinton), and Nancy Robertson (Wanda Dollard). Also a HUGE thanks to Cavan Cunningham who MC'ed (aka Mayor Fitzy). He was a riot!The Globe Theatre...especially Ruth, Soho and Crave (best food and drinks ever!) the volunteers and of course all the people who came out and supported Joel on his path to recovery. Also, Becki Hui who designed the awesome logo,Holly Baird-Pinch (who helped hugely!) and of course Richelle Bourgoin and (who didn't want to be mentioned but is the publicist and amazing friend of Joel's)! And of course CTV for letting all this happen! We don't know the exact amount raised but it was a LOT! More thanks to the Freehouse, the crew of Sabbatical, and all of the other wonderful people who have raised money. There are no words big enough to describe it all! More to come from Joel himself, but as you can tell, last night ROCKED!

Family!!!!!

Please go to www.cbc.ca/morningedition for the wonderful radio story on Joel and Jen! In the meantime....enjoy these pics of the family siblings and JD!!

Spotlight

So it's day 29 and I have finally gotten over a big fear - being on camera! I made the six o clock local news and it looks like we might be going national! Tha's quite an achievement for somebody who "hates" the limelight. Ha ha!

As for the weekend, I had a fantastic one! A great football game on Saturday and then an awesome family bbq on Sunday. Escaping from the hospital was such a good feeling and I had a few "road" pops for you all.

Missing you all and awaiting your next visits! Love you and can't wait to see all of you very soon! Jump Feet First!

Cheers!
Joel

pizza, beer and football

Saturday night, we are having a party in the room. Watching the football game, eating pizza and chugging back on a few "pops"! A couple of the other patients have joined us so we are having some laughs and visiting. Physio went well all week, Joel has been doing great in occupational therapy and learning new things everyday. Have a good weekend! Cheers.

Look Alikes

Josh is back for a few weeks and has been hanging out and catching up at Wascana. Dad and him picked out a sweet flatscreen tv so watching movies is a lot easier!

Day 25

Hi everyone! I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have come up to visit! My routine for the day has become quite tiring and I feel the need to limit the visiting hours. I just need to rest some more during the day. I still want everyone to come and visit so this is just a general schedule for visiting hours. On weekdays the best times to stop by are 6 to 8:30 pm. Weekends are more flexible, but usually anytime after 11 am is great! Otherwise I am feeling really fantastic about where physio is going. And although it kicks me in the ass, it is pain and frustration in the right direction. Thank you for your understanding and as the slogan goes, "Be safe. Jump feet first!"

Joel

Day twenty-three..

We are into the thick of things with physio now. Three times a day and it's killing me but I love it! If things go well this week in physio I should be upgrading again into a lighter weight wheelchair. We discovered today that we can strap a fork to my hand with the possibility of feeding myself, but I am quite worried about piercing my lip. But hey that is the trend these days isn't it? ha My brother is back for a while and it will be great to spend some QT time with him. It is good to have the family back together. Loving hearing from you all. Stay safe, jump feet first! Talk to you soon. Joel.

Hippo Wear

Dad and Joel wearing Joel's design! Not that long ago Joel and Kenny designed a logo for Hippo wear and Kenny has created some hats out of it. If you look close you can see a hippo on the side and on the back it says "We Heart Joel." If anyone is interested in them let us know! (The hats not the boys!)

CP Story....

A set carpenter on the comedy "Corner Gas" says he's deeply moved by the love and support he's receiving from the cast of the hit show since he broke his neck in a diving accident last month.

Joel Bancescue, 26, is currently wheelchair-bound in a Regina rehabilitation centre after fracturing two vertebrae in his neck in the accident last month at Regina Beach.

But he hopes to be strong enough to attend the comedy show fundraiser that the cast of Canada's most popular sitcom is planning for him on Aug. 21 in Regina.

"I was completely overwhelmed, I'm still overwhelmed, to hear that they were planning such a big, major event for me," Banescue said in a telephone interview from Regina on Friday.

"It has definitely lifted my spirits, because I just bought a house and I was worried about my financial situation. Now I don't really have to think about that stuff too much right now."

The money might also help, he added, in the event he wants to leave Saskatchewan to seek treatment or medical advice.

"Now I could travel elsewhere to get treatment if I needed to," he said.

Brent Butt, star of "Corner Gas," said the cast was happy to do whatever they could to help Banescue.

"He can't work and insurance is only going to go so far ... so we thought maybe we could help alleviate some of the financial worries so he can just concentrate on getting better," he said.

Regina's Globe Theatre has donated the space for the fundraising show, and local restaurants and nightclubs are contributing food and drink. The cast plans to perform a reading of a "Corner Gas" episode and participate in some comedy sketches.

"Everybody on the set knows everybody - it's not Hollywood - so everyone chums around and parties together," Butt said. "Right away the notion was: 'Well, what can everybody do to help out?"'

Banescue has undergone one surgery since his accident, but says it's too soon for doctors to determine whether he'll walk again.

"It's about staying positive and I have a very good support group behind me and mentally and physically, I'm doing very well," he said. "I truly believe that physio is going well."

"We all love him and care about him very much," she said. "He has just been a really big part of our production and our happiness on set, so we wanted to give back some of our appreciation."

day nineteen, settled in for the battle

I have settled in to Wascana into a fairly regular schedule. Got myself a sweet new ride, much more comfortable than last weeks chair. Just wanted to thank everyone for your continued love and support.

A special thanks and hugs and love to all who helped organize this amazing fundraiser! It really means the world to me and my family. Hoping to see many of you at the event.

Cheers.

Leader Post Article On Joel and Jen

Hi Everyone! Please go to Canada.com/local/regina to see the article on Joel and Jen. It is great! You can try the link below but it is very long! More to come....


http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/story.html?id=6d3143d5-2a4e-4dca-81bb-b61cfbe2181b&k=91792

Corner Gas Goes Live (Again...) Fundraiser

Corner Gas Goes Live (Again…) - This time for JOEL!

Dog River is returning to the Globe Theatre for one starry night!

On Wednesday, August 22nd at 8:00 PM Corner Gas Live returns to the Globe Theatre in support of Joel Bancescue’s road to recovery.

Please help Corner Gas help Joel on his road to recovery.

Tickets for the events are on sale online at www.globetheatrelive.com NOW or in person at the theatre or by telephone at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 9th and are expected to sell-out VERY quickly!!!

Doors open at 7:00 PM for a stand-up cocktail reception featuring a welcome cocktail and complimentary appetizers courtesy of SoHo Restaurant & Club and Crave Kitchen & Wine Bar and IATSE 295. A cash bar is also available.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.globetheatrelive.com or by calling 306.525.9553.

Please note – there is also an option to add an additional donation online when purchasing tickets.

If you have any questions, please call Richelle Bourgoin at 306.530.4012 or email rbourgoin@sasktel.net.

Please note that 100 per cent of the ticket sales and bar proceeds will go to Joel.

New Digs Update

Joel has moved over to Wascana Rehab. Once we know details for visiting we will let everyone know! Also, there are some fundraisers and things in the works so please keep checking back for details (which we will post in the next few days).

Just in case we had to break him out early...

The Hippo Beach Posse Had a Plan: The Hollywood Disguise.

Update - Tuesday August 7, 2007

Just received word that Joel has been accepted into the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and will be packing his bags and moving on Wednesday at about 10:00 AM.

Joel and Mom

Love....

Quick Update

The staples in Joel's neck from the surgery have been removed. He is much more comfortable and getting closer to going to Wascana. He will be updating soon!

Joel and His Giant Hotdog

Some of the latest and finest work on Joel's Film Reel. And yes, this is a giant hot dog. There is really no other explanation. We will leave the comments up to you!

Day 14

Hi everyone,

I woke up this morning to discover I was being put into a bubble bath by five women. Yes!!! I sat in there for about an hour...then came and had breakfast. I also suntanned outside for a few hours then came back inside for a nap - sounds like a pretty typical day in my life! I will probably relax the rest of the day away and rejuvinate my energy to prepare for more physio. I should be getting my staples out soon and will probably be going to Wascana sometime next week. We will post once we know that date. In the meantime, I have been feeling great and have taken the first step towards becoming a drag queen with my new black thigh high compression tights. So if you know anyone that has size 10 heels...well that's step 2! Love you all and thanks for your continued love and support!

J

continued love..

I apologize for leaving my response for more than a couple of days but my days have been so filled with physio, eating, sleeping and doing drugs. (ha) That leaves me not much time for much else. I always have an open ear for everyones wonderful comments and they keep me so warm and focused on the end goal of walking again. You are all so amazing! As you can see my best furry buddy has been up to visit a few times, I got the colour back in my face and my arm/shoulder mobility is increasing daily - no thanks to the hospital food, but a big thanks to all outside food supporters! Had a wonderful stroll with the family and some friends down to a local coffee shop today, off of hospital premise. Man does that make me miss the sunshine and fresh air. But on the otherside I do get a whirl pool bath here pretty quick so i'll let you know how it goes. Love you all and speak with you soon. J

Lookin Good!!

Chillin with J-Dog

Today was another good solid day of physio. Joel also spent a few hours out in the sun. JD came by for a visit and got to spend some quality time with Joel. He didn't think twice about jumping onto the bed!

The Days of Charlevoix

August 2 Update

Joel's Physio continues to be hard work, but he is definitely up for the challenge. He has increased his tolerance to the physio, and is tired, but in good spirits. If you have any good, CLEAN stories please feel free to post them. And of course inspirational stuff is great too! Joel was brought to tears by all the support after reading this blog and his family loves reading all the comments too. XOXOXOXO

Joel, Court and Friends

With Love from Joel

The last couple of days have been pretty challenging but very rewarding. Physio has been kickin me in the butt pretty good, but it’s given me some wheelchair mobility and the chance to get outside and get some fresh air. The continued love of sent cards and flowers is so beautiful. Everyone at the rowing club you are all my best friends. I love and miss you all. Thank you so much! And to everyone at my mom’s work, thank you for your love and support it means the world to me. I am at a loss for words….but I love you all and am thinking about you too.

Joel

The Boys and Fernie