'Jonny is special': Moncton music community rallies around drummer
Even though he's recently received a serious diagnosis, Jonny Flanagan still loves to pound away on his drum kit in the basement of his Moncton, N.B., home.
The well-known and well-loved musician recently found out that he has Stage 4 colorectal cancer, and just finished his second round of chemotherapy treatment.
His musician friends are holding a big benefit concert for him on June 1 at Casino New Brunswick, and a recent GoFundMe campaign raised $49,500 in just a few weeks.
"It’s unbelievable. The community and friends helping like that, it just blew us away," said Flanagan.
His partner, Gillian Jackson, said all the love and support has been amazing.
"It’s overwhelming and it means that we don’t have to worry and he can focus on getting better and I can focus on taking care of him," said Jackson.
A life-long metal head and punk rocker, Flanagan has been playing drums since he was a kid, and the 47-year-old has been a fixture on the Moncton music scene for decades.
Jonny Flanagan sits at his drum set. (Derek Haggett/CTV Atlantic)
Longtime friend and fellow drummer Ken Kelley said Jonny is an optimistic and uplifting person.
"No matter what you could be going through, he’s always had this incredibly sunny outlook on life," said Kelley.
Kelley's band The Monoxides will be performing at the benefit show in June and lead singer Steve Hickox organized the GoFundMe along with Jackson.
Hickox said when he knew exactly what Flanagan was facing he wanted to get the online fundraiser up and running.
"Initially we asked for $10,000. We had almost that in the first few hours," said Hickox. "Honestly, I had no idea it would take off like it did."
Hickox said his friend is the kind of person who just makes everyone feel better.
"It starts with that permanent smile of his and continues with his infectious laugh and warm personality," said Hickox. "He is absolutely one of the most lovable people I’ve ever met."
His treatments have kept him from his day job, teaching drums at Long and McQuade, for about a year.
"We’re doing this to support Jonny," said Kelley. "As many people know, the arts and music specifically is a tough, tough go. A lot of musicians and artists aren’t lucky enough to have the safety net of health benefits."
Jonny Flanagan sits and smiles for a photo. (Courtesy: Gillian Jackson)Flanagan loves to teach and said he'll miss his students while he's away.
"It’s so much fun and the kids are so great. It’s very rewarding work to see them progress," said Flanagan.
Flanagan and Jackson moved into a new home last year, so the cancer diagnosis was a big blow to the couple.
The support they are receiving from the music community is crucial to them right now.
"It’s humbling to have to ask for help. so, for everyone just to step up and do it without us asking was amazing," said Jackson. "Jonny is special to me. I knew that he was special to everybody, but this has exceeded any expectation I ever could have had for help, support and love."
He’s looking at three months of treatment with chemotherapy and then doctors will re-assess to see if he needs more.
Radiation and surgery are definite possibilities.
"It’s been scary. It’s not something that we ever anticipated. Nobody really anticipates getting this diagnosis," said Jackson.
No matter what, Flanagan said he’ll stay optimistic and keep smiling.
"There’s really no other way. You have to have a positive mind and honestly and truthfully I have zero doubts that we’re going to beat this and move forward," said Flanagan.
The drummer will be performing with his band “Iron Giant” at the June 1 concert.
More information on the one-night show is available on the Smile for Jonny Facebook page.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
How to keep insects out of your house, according to an entomologist and other experts
Now that temperatures have warmed up even more this spring, you may be anxious at the thought of bugs invading your home or you may already be battling the pests. Here are expert tips on how to keep them away.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
Leaving time on the table: Surveys show unused paid vacation, 'quiet vacationing'
'Quiet vacationing' is the latest new term to describe the rough edges of office culture, and survey data shows it's widespread among North American workers.
Avian flu: Catch up on spread, risks, and guidance from health experts
After another case of H5N1 avian flu linked to dairy cows was confirmed in a second dairy farmer in the United States, some Canadian experts say the federal government needs to expand surveillance of the virus north of the border.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
UN court order demanding Israel to halt Gaza offensive further isolates U.S. position
A ruling by the top United Nations court ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has deepened its disconnect with the United States over an operation that faces mounting international condemnation but that American officials describe, at least for now, as limited and targeted.