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On March 13th, Mike Farwell was our speaker and Topic was "The Luckiest Guy in the World".- Brandon introduced Mike, and they have been friends 20 years, meeting at Popeyes gym where they both were pumping iron and bodybuilding...well they talked about bodybuilding which is likely close enough.
- Mike was born, raised and educated in Waterloo Region
- His dad was a teacher, his mom a stay at home mom raising 5 kids
- Mike and his family lived in Kitchener East and he attended St Annes, and St Jeromes before heading to U of W to become a teacher.
- He gave teaching a year, but felt his calling and attended Conestoga College for Broadcasting, with his parents support
- His first job was Salmon Arm BC and he made several stops across Canada before coming home to Kitchener
- Mike was a morning man on the newly formed "Beat Radio" and went by the name "Big Mike"
- When Brandon told his then 13 year old daughter he was friends with Mike, she was super impressed, won Brandon some points!
- Mike went on to host The Mike Farwell Show on 570 and of course is the play by play voice of Kitchener Rangers
- Mikes passion, other than riding his Crotch Rocket is raising money and awareness for a dear cause Cystic Fibrosis
- Mike lost 2 sisters Luane and Sherry in the fall of 1993 and spring 1994 to Cystic Fibrosis
- Luane, his older sister lived for the day and despite the 2 times a day "Treatments"including ..Draining mucus, constant back slapping. etc ...she led an active life.
- The fact that her life expectancy was 24 years, prompted her to ask her parents to quit school at 16, and both her mom and father (teacher) supported her in this decision. She passed at the age of 24
- She wanted and was successful in becoming "The Babysitter" in the East Ward at the time. Mike recounted how she would leave home at 7 am and return hours after dark to care for several families children
- at her funeral dozens of Her Kids showed up to offer respects and recant stories of how Luane helped them in their formative years
- Sherry passed at 19 and unfortunately lived a life less active although still full and with a smile every day
- Mike and his friends/brother started raising money for CF At a neighbourhood "Carnival", in the 1980's and over a 10 year span went from raising $40 to several hundred dollars raised per year
- About 6 years ago Mike took up the cause again. In his first "Farwell for Hire" Campaign ,in 2014 he raised $18,000 last year he raised grand total of $88,000!! for cystic fibrosis
- With Farwell for Hire, Mike makes himself available for odd jobs, and in lieu of payment, the people who hire him make a donation.
- Mike is the most caring ,unselfish guy Brandon have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and his campaign starts at the end of April, Brandon encourage all club members. family and friends to "Find a job"for Mike, and contribute to Farwell for Hire, or just contribute, he truly appreciates it and is deserved of our help!
- For further info see the press release on Farwell For Hire