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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 25, 2007 - 17 Oakville rallies around Bill By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The community is rallying behind long-time resident Bill Fallon Jr. Last week, The Oakville Beaver ran a story about Fallon, a 45-year-old man whose weight -- at nearly 500 pounds -- has compromised not only his job and personal life, but most recently his health. Fallon was hospitalized on St. Patrick's Day with seeping sores caused by poor circulation. He also had breathing difficulties, a stressed heart, diabetes and was told he must lose weight to ultimately survive. He recently travelled to Buffalo -- thanks to assistance from Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's constituency office -- for an MRI to assess a pituitary gland tumor. It was deemed not to be causing his eating disorder. His size couldn't be accommodated in Oakville's MRI. Fallon and his aunt, Kathy Williston, spoke with The Oakville Beaver to outline the difficulties Fallon faces. Asserting that eating is an addiction for Fallon, a former Gordon E. Perdue High School graduate, the pair said an inpatient rehabilitation program -- similar to those attended by alcoholics or drug addicts -- is what Fallon needs to make the lifestyle changes he must to survive. He had his stomach "stapled" 20 years ago, but it hasn't been the answer. However, the closest program is at a facility in Guelph where only one or two beds are government funded and the waiting list is three months to a year. A bed costs $7,000 a month and Fallon was looking at a four-to-nine week program. Fallon bared his soul -- and his size -- to get help -- and Oakville is responding. One Oakville woman, who told The Beaver she has a similar problem, forwarded a card of encouragement to Fallon. The owners of the Body Shaping Fitness Studio, Maria Kinlough and Dirk Gebhardt, a certified kinesiologist, offered to help. Kinlough told The Beaver they assist clients weighing up to 300 pounds. Fallon has connected with Meals on Wheels, which, upon his return home, will deliver diet meals, for him and his parents. Fallon lives with his parents in the basement apartment of his sister's home, which is wheelchair accessible for his dad. Last week's article also reunited old friends. Fallon and Chris Tymstra, owner of Corbett Sports and the north Oakville Kelsey's, were best friends growing up. Tymstra had no sooner read The Beaver than he was at the hospital. "We'd lost touch. He'd kind of gone underground because of the weight problem," Tymstra told The Beaver. By Monday, Tymstra, true to his word, and his friend, was promoting a May 2 fundraiser. The flyer reads, "Come visit with Bill Fallon Wednesday, May 2 at 8 p.m. at Kelsey's Restaurant Oakville North, 301 Hays Blvd. Help raise some money to get Bill the help he's asking for. All monies raised go directly to Bill's placement with Homewood Healthcare in Guelph (www.homewood.org)." "I've handed them out to many of the nurses who say they'll be there," said Fallon. Down in the hospital lobby, Fallon said people were offering him encouragement. "Apparently a lot of people think more Bill Fallon Jr. of me than I do," said Fallon. When he learned he'd go home yesterday he panicked. "With the support from your story and from people that have come around, now I'm kind of excited about going home. I'm really sure I can do it," said Fallon. Upon admittance to hospital, Fallon weighed 503 pounds. Monday he was 457. Fallon said he received a letter Monday that appears he has been accepted for treatment in Guelph and is being put on the waiting list. Fallon said he'll be at the Kelsey's fundraiser. "We'll have as many Fallons as we can fit," laughed Fallon, adding, "We may have to make two trips." Halton plans a June 6 public consultation on obesity. An international conference on physical activity and obesity in children will be held June 2427 in Toronto. 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