She has warmed hearts across the continent although she's made of ice, leaning tenderly on the shoulder of an exhausted New York firefighter who is holding a U.S. flag, It's all part of an ice sculpture created to pay tribute to the courage of emergency workers in New York on September 11.

Since images of Darlene Racicot's entry in the South Porcupine Winter Carnival ice sculpture contest were posted on the City of Timmins municipal Web site, The Daily Press has received a flood of e-mails from across the continent requesting information, including how to contact and thank Racicot for her thoughtful and moving artistry.

How did the artist responsible for such an outpouring of appreciation get her inspiration? It started as it has grown, with an e-mailed image from a friend, a photo of an actual New York fire fighter at ground zero, with an angel digitally added, said Racicot.

"It was so touching, it really moved me when I saw the picture. I thought maybe it would have the same impact on people if I did it three dimensionally".

"I hoped to touch others as, my husband and I felt really helpless when September 11 happened. We gave blood and donated to a fund, but being this far away what can you do? You wanted to do so much to help, but you can't. This is my way of giving back a little bit, letting them know we're thinking about them here."

Ironically, Racicot, who had won first place for a number of years, had thought she'd sit this year's competition out, to allow others their place in the sun. When she saw the picture, she was so moved she felt she had to act on it.

In response to admirer's requests, she has allowed The Daily Press to publish her e-mail address, (rdv-rac@ntl.sympatico.ca), and mailing address Box 2508, South Porcupine, PON 1H0.

"The sculpture is made all of snow, I pay a backhoe service to make me a big pile in my front yard, there is no shortage of it here let me tell you. Then I take a shovel, a snow scoop and a hatchet and go to town. I shovel and hack away at it until it starts to resemble what I want. I use lots of water to ice it up which I carry out in 5 gal pails from my bathtub. I use a pie lifter to do the finer detailing and water paints (tempera) and a regular paint brush to paint it. It usually takes about 200-250 hours for me to do. Lots of late nights and lots and lots of shoveling, that is not one of my favorite parts. I do it all alone and I have a wonderful supportive husband and daughter who don't mind the messy house and eating take-out for a few weeks. And that's about it. I wish I could say the fireman was clothed by Tommy Hill but he's only wearing paint".