Member of Parliament (MP) for Labrador said it was overwhelming to see the support during the opening ceremonies of the 40th Labrador Winter Games.
She said that support helping her treatment in St. John’s, Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time in October 2022.
40 years after attending her first LWG as an athlete, Jones was once again at the opening ceremonies last Sunday night.
But, this time, the Labrador MP honored with flowers and a standing ovation from the crowd amid her battle with breast cancer.
“She’s a fighter,” Sheshatshiu Innu Nation Chief, Eugene Hart told the crowded arena.
The standing ovation from the arena with an estimated 1,300 athletes volunteer and spectators was “pretty overwhelming, but it was energizing for me as well,” Jones told CBC Monday night.
“The fact that they’ve supported me in this battle with breast cancer and they’ve continued to hold me up with their prayers, hold me up to their energy, like they did last night in the arena is going to help me beat this and get to the end with it,” Jones said, “and for that I’m forever thankful.”
She had beaten cancer 12 years ago, but it returned in October, she said in November.
“I’m am heading back to St. John’s to continue my medical treatment .. and I really appreciate the energy and support and the prayers that people of Labrador and the people in NF have given me, she added.
As a 14-year-old in 1983, it was an experience for her coming from the village of Mary’s Harbor in a Twin Otter to a large town in HV-GB, that had a swimming pool and theater.
“You did not have that interaction with sports meets and communities to commute back and forth, and added Labrathon was her favorite sport, it starts on March 18 this year.