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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 13, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Living Oakville Beaver By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-845-3824 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: editor@oakvillebeaver.com Mulvale befriends poverty-stricken orphans Trip to Uganda a real eye-opener for mom of two An Oakville resident, who survived flesheating disease, said the moment in life she felt most inadequate was admitting to Tanzanian children she wasn't in Africa last summer to help them. Now, several months later, she is trying to do just that. Catherine Mulvale is encouraging people here to support the Uganda Orphans Fund. Ten years ago, flesh-eating disease and toxic shock saw Mulvale given a 10 per cent chance of survival. The 40-year-old mother of two -- Jordanne, 11 and Zack, 12 -- spent five weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She had eight surgeries in 23 days, lost 11 muscles in her back and shoulder and half of her shoulder blade. It is believed bacteria travelled into her arm and shoulder via a crack in her finger. Some people have a predisposition to invasive Group A Strep infections, and flesheating occurs when the body overreacts and the swelling kills healthy cells. Eight years ago, Mulvale launched LIFE Hike and Surviving Strep ­ Strategies for LIFE. LIFE Hike has raised more than $400,000 and last summer, Mulvale and her husband, Tom, led 37 people to ROAR (Realize Opportunities to Advance Research) Up Kilimanjaro to raise a minimum $500,000 to fight infectious diseases. Funds raised went to the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases (CFID), where Mulvale is director of development. CFID supports the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (AMMI Canada), the world's largest association of medical microbiologists and infectious disease specialists, for research into diseases like hepatitis, E. coli, influenza, flesh-eating disease, malaria, toxic shock, SARS, meningitis, pneumonia, salmonella and AIDS. Prior to climbing Kilimanjaro, Mulvale spent six days in Kampala and Rakai, Uganda. SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER See Stories page 13 REACHING OUT TO OTHERS: Catherine Mulvale and her husband, Tom, stand in the rainforest at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, above left. Last summer the husband and wife team led 37 others in a Mount Kilimanjaro climb to raise funds to fight infectious diseases. Prior to the climb, the local woman spent time in Uganda where she met children swept up in a cycle of poverty, above right. HURR OFFERS Y EN SOON D www.oakvillebeaver.com Further Reductions! BON CTORY $100 FAATE* REB DELS O CTED M ON SELE US off a huge selection of already reduced prices on Holiday Fashion Fabrics & Basics! Christmas Decor & Tablewear! Sewing Notions & Gifts! No-Sew, Ready-to-Go Home Decor, Home Decor by the metre & sew much more! Save up to $244 Stay warm this winter with a Regency Fireplace that gives your home the warmth and style you are looking for! Purchase your Regency wood or gas fireplace, stove or insert until December 22nd, 2006 to receive a FREE accessory. See in store for promotion details. www.regency-fire.com ...plus And You'll Save Off off our already reduced prices on Selected Holiday Our Regular Jacquard Tabling! APPLEBY SHOWROOM AT 2086 SPEERS RD OAKVILLE SHOWROOM # 905-825-1929 Prices on anything else not already on sale! OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 SYSTEMS FIREPLACE, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS OAKVILLE 905-825-1893 BURLINGTON 905-335-3203 www.applebysystems.on.ca Showroom Hours: Mon-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Saturdays 11:00am-4:00pm Excluding promotional goods & special purchases. Sale in effect til Dec. 24/06. Insertion Date: Wednesday, December 13/06 (or other) Insertion size: 5 X 91 lines (or other) Please set all address info in this space, in reverse, big & bold as space allows. Proof to Manager. 140 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE 844-7728