Why Missy Knott Is A Great Believer In The Power Of Community & People
/For talented singer-songwriter Missy Knott, giving back to others is a huge part of who she is—an essential part of her DNA.
Missy believes deeply in the power of human connections, and much of that comes from loss and anguish she has experienced in her own life. "With how I've been affected by Colon Cancer [in 2009, her father lost his battle with it], suicide, mental health and all of the different walks of life I've grown up exploring, it is very important for me to connect on a personal level with people," she tells PTBOCanada.
Photo by Davey Warren
That Missy does, having lent her time and talent to numerous charitable endeavours over the years—recent examples being the Women For Women YWCA Concert Fundraiser and the Peterborough Huskies special needs team.
"Missy is an incredible, inspiring young woman," Huskies co-founder Cathie Tuck tells PTBOCanada. "She does so much for others in this community. We have been blessed to know her. Missy is writing the Huskies theme song, along with some other amazing people. We cannot wait to hear her sing it. Missy leads with her heart and we are so proud of her. We know she will be a vital part of change in this world."
Missy herself is humble about all she does to give back, but says it's community and people that constantly inspire here:
"Our community has provided myself, my family, my daughter as well as my friends and forever people in my life with such amazing opportunities and experiences," Missy tells PTBOCanada. "I want everyone to succeed and thrive. I've faced enormous challenges and struggles since giving birth to my daughter. I now know the true effects, and why I have had to face them when it comes to disease and death among other things. I will always use my connections, business and personal, to help this community and the people in it who show me love when I most need it."
Photo by Davey Warren
On of the most significant connections Missy has made over the years is with Randy Elliott, who she has forged a deep friendship and bond with. Randy lost his stepdaughter Chloe Leblanc in 2009 to Cystic fibrosis (CF). Chloe died at just age 26. That same year was when Missy's father who raised her, Ralf Warnke, passed away.
"When I met Randy Elliott about 7 years ago, we were both struggling to find our purpose after losing these very important people to us," Missy tells PTBOCanada. "He asked if Sam Ferguson and I, who were playing as a duo at that time, would be interested in helping him by playing for a fundraiser he would put together for Cystic Fibrosis. What started as a Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser in memory of Chloe is now a celebration of life that includes a number of musicians from the community called Randy Rock N' Rolls for CF."
Missy and Randy
