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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 21, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Believing in magic sparks fundraising gala Continued from page 10 The event happens on Saturday, March 29 in the evening ­ which also coincides with Earth Hour, when Oakville and other major towns and cities around the world will turn their lights off to recognize global warming from 8 ­ 9 p.m.. Nancy says they'll be dining by candlelight at Rattlesnake Point in Milton. In attendance will be nurses and support staff from the hospital, the president of SickKids, doctors, friends and family. The Do you Believe in Magic event is not the only way the Clark family gives back. Sydney now does advocacy work for SickKids whenever they call on her. "I know it's helping them and benefiting them, and it's something I want to do to help them," she said. Sydney also tells her story when friends at Brock see her `Believe' tattoo and ask about it. "The best way to describe it is, you know how they say that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes? It was like that," said Sydney. "It was all stories kind of played out, and I had to kind of fight through them and work hard to get past them. It was like a constant challenge and a struggle that you can't escape." The struggle didn't stop when she PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLARK FAMILY BELIEVERS: Sydney Clark at last year's inaugural Do You Believe in Magic? fundraiser with her two of her SickKids doctors, Dr. Peter Cox and Dr. Desmond Bohn. woke up, either. "It was exceptional when she woke on Mother's day," said Nancy, "except she couldn't walk or talk. She had to re-learn everything." Sydney knew who her parents and brother were, and wasn't certain of the identity of her boyfriend, Ryan, "but she told me, `I really like him,'" said Nancy, laughing. After about 40 days in SickKids, Sydney went to Bloorview rehabilitation in Toronto for another 47 days. There, she says she was told her brain had "found a new way of learning everything. I had to learn the same things, it just took longer." Now, Sydney says things are back to 100 per cent ­ if not better. "I feel like I've changed to become such a better person," she said. Annual 16th "Obviously I'm not happy about what happened, but to see all the good that has come out of it, the fundraiser, it's just such a positive thing." Do you Believe in Magic takes place Saturday, March 29 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, which donated the venue for free. Rattlesnake Point is located at 5407 Regional Road 25. The event will feature a live and silent auction with items including a barbecue for friends in your own backyard courtesy of Firehall Restaurant, dinner for six at Cucci including limo transportation, golf for four at Muskoka's Lake Joseph club plus overnight accommodation, a big screen TV, courtside Toronto Raptors tickets, and housecleaning for a year from Molly Maid. For the second year running, emcee will be Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn. The event's main sponsor is Jennifer Estall, of Sunlife Financial. Silver sponsors are The Firehall Restaurant, Claymore Investments, Inc., Wayne C. McGill Insurance and HCP Canada Ltd. Tickets cost $75 per person. Tables of eight or 10 are also available. For tickets, call 416-505-6304 or email debbiemcgill@cogeco.ca. For more information, visit www.believeinmagic.org. UNMATCHED Quality UNBEATABLE Prices Making quality affordable for over 30 years! Savings UP TO 50% April 25-27, 2008 International Centre Hall 5, 6900 Airport Road at Derry Road Mississauga, Ontario FREE PARKING! Yum! · Visit Food Network Get Cooking! Stage · See Canadian Living Live! Anthony Sedlak host of "The Main" SECTIONALS Great styles and high style fabrics special offer 2 Pc Sectionals $2699 FROM $1599 Beautiful contemporary MAPLE KING SIZE BED 100 fabric options HOURS: Fri: 12 noon-8 pm, Sat: 10 am-8 pm, Sun: 10 am-5 pm ADMISSION: (including taxes) · Adults: $12 · Seniors (65+): $11 · Kids under 12 free! (when accompanied by an adult) $1499 SPECIAL $799 Limited quantity Matching bedroom pieces available INFO: www.goodfoodfestival.com SAVOUR hundreds of FREE food & drink samples DISCOVER thousands of new foods and related products ENJOY 150+ FREE cooking shows, hands-on lessons, nutrition talks and delicious tastings on 5 non-stop stages! GENUINE LEATHER Sofa/Loveseat 2 Pcs. · Natural & Organic Foods, Wellness & Health Visit website! · Enter Canada's Best Fudge Recipe Contest $3499 NOW $1899 In-stock special Limited quantity Don't miss out on these great savings! SPONSORED BY: Heritage Furniture Since 1977 4205 Fairview St. Burlington · 905-634-5298