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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, December 15, 2011 · 14 Fundraiser is a way to remember Gabrielle Continued from page 7 around and it's Gabrielle. I've made her and she will be hanging above the North Pole, which will have Santa, his sleigh, Santa's workshop and Santa's house," said Nikki. "Underneath that, there's going to be the Polar Express, which is going to include a moving train. Underneath that is going to be Cupid's town and it's going to be a town square." Last year's auction raised more than $1,000. Nikki hopes to exceed that this year. It's looking good so far -- Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman John Michael Liles placed an early bid of $250 on one of the gingerbread houses. "They all start out at whatever someone feels like starting the bidding at. John Michael Liles wanted to bid $250 because he wants to win it. He said, `I'm not going to lose it,'" said Nikki. "He's already opened it with a high bid, but we're not expecting everybody to start with that, for sure. I guess he's looking for a little bit of notoriety there." With help from several local organizations, Nikki has created a charity ride for next summer, called Gabrielle's Ride. The "We can remember her and share her wisdom with the community. The kids in her life and her friends talk about her every day. It's not just me, her dad or her grandparents -- her friends really miss her." Nikki Ide Cinanni, Gabrielle's mom event will raise awareness for congenital heart disease and pediatric stroke. Money raised will be donated to SickKids. The cycle will feature several routes -- 100-km, 50-km, 25-km and 2-km­ all starting and finishing at Appleby College, she said. "In my way of dealing with her loss and her unexpected death, (I) decided that the best way I could give back to the community was to create Gabrielle's Ride in Oakville on July 22, 2012," said Nikki. "Cardiac Kids donated $1 million to Camp Oki, which is a camp specially designed for kids with cardiac disease so that they can go every year for a week and just be kids." "We're going to have things like bouncy castles and music, and educational opportunities for kids to hear about pediatric stroke and heart disease and what it means." Despite Gabrielle's health, she always embraced her life, family and friends. She loved everything she did, and did so with a glowing smile on her face -- something her family and friends greatly miss. "She inspires me every day because she lived (through) that. She did it so well and it just puts things into perspective with the trivial moments in life. I'm very grateful to her for teaching me that so clearly," said Nikki, through tears. "We can remember her and share her wisdom with the community. The kids in her life and her friends talk about her every day. It's not just me, her dad or her grandparents -- her friends really miss her." People can bid on their favourite gingerbread houses until 5 p.m. on Dec. 23. Winners can pick up their gingerbread houses the following day by 5 p.m. Auction bidders must register with the bakery either in person or by phone. Cupid's Gourmet Cupcakes is located in Upper Oakville Shopping Centre, 1011 Upper Middle Rd. E. The shop is closed Mondays. For more information, call 905-339-2253 or visit www.cupidscupcakes.ca/. Nathan Howes can be reached at howesna@sheridanc.on.ca or follow him on Twitter at @HowesNathan.