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31 · Friday, December 16, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Cancer survivor inspires school community By Jonathan Ferguson, Gr. 12, T.A. Blakelock High School Almost two months ago, Kyle Miller, the inspirational speaker who survived a battle with Osteogenic sarcoma (a cancerous bone tumour), visited our school, Thomas A. Blakelock, and honoured us with his incredible inspirational presentation on the day of our annual Terry Fox run Marathon of Hope. Kyle follows his passion by travelling school to school, urging youth to step up to their dreams and follow them -- and he did an amazing job of it too. Awareness and participation from students at our school has sky rocketed since his amazing presentation and the day of our Marathon of Hope. In late October, the T.A. Blakelock Tigers took on the Abbey Park Eagles in a pink football game at Bronte Athletic Field for breast cancer awareness. Both teams wore pink on their jerseys, the ball was pink and everyone in the stands was dressed in pink to show their support for those battling breast cancer. Students of each school could also donate $5 to attend the game and show their support that way, and in the process, helped our school raise $1,526 in donations. This was immediate proof that Kyle's inspiration had carried through to the students long after his visit. Last month, the male teachers and students at T.A. Blakelock supported those battling prostate cancer by participating in Movember -- a charity event where participants grow moustaches and are not allowed to shave for the entire month. Six teachers at our school participated and took donations to help fund the research to cure prostate cancer. Since Kyle's visit to our school, students have been helping in every way they can, and are never shy to support a good cause. Unfortunately, the student body recently learned that Kyle has been ambushed by another bout with cancer. It is terrible news, but the once strong cancer survivor must battle the disease once more -- this time in his lungs. When my teacher Mrs. Buck, who teaches the leadership course I am currently taking, heard of the bad news, she rushed to our classroom to inform us. There had to be something we could do for him. It was time to back Kyle up in his fight against cancer. The other leaders and I worked hard to spread the word that Kyle needed our support. So on Nov. 4, we assembled the entire school into the large gym and filmed the event that took place. The entire school cheered Kyle on and showed their support for him. First taking a moment of silence for those we have lost to cancer and those still fighting. Following that, we began to applaud and cheer on Kyle, in an effort to show our support to those who have defeated cancer and those who continue to fight to defeat it once and for all. I was so honoured to host the event and help bring all of our school community together for such a good cause and I also hope Kyle and everyone else, including you reading this, have felt and understood our message: to never give up in the face of despair; that there is always hope. The event was video recorded and is posted on Kyle Miller's Twitter account (@ Kylemiller35) where you can follow Kyle's journey. The video currently has more than 600 views and we hope more people will share the video soon, along with our message with as many people as possible. Together united we can defeat cancer once and for all. Help the Oakville Blades BEAT CANCER! Support Cancer Research Support Youth Development Support Your Community! Local students earn power-boating card The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron of Port Credit recently worked together with Oakville's White Oaks Secondary School to help students earn their Pleasure Craft Operators Card. The card is a proof of competency in operating a boat with a motor and required by law for all power boaters. Instructors Pauline Wettlaufer and Peter Halasz provided 10 hours of instruction and issued the Transport Canada exam. West Marine of Oakville, as a community sponsor, came forward to show its support for the program and safe boating. West Marine donated an approved PFD (personal flotation device) to each successful participant in the program. The certificate program is offered as part of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and the Specialist High Skills Major Program in Transportation. White Oaks is the first school in Halton to provide this opportunity to students in these programs. For more information on the card, visit www.theoperatorcard. ca/en. HERITAGE Lifestyle Home Furnishings Get your 2012 Oakville Blades Jr. A Hockey Raffle Tickets TODAY! ood ade id W M Sol adian room Can Bed SINCE 1977 Pink In The Rink Game Jan. 27/2012 INCREDIBLE SAVINGS FOR A LIMITED TIME DURING THE "DURHAM FURNITURE" FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALES EVENT! 4205 Fairview Street, Burlington · 905-634-5298 www.heritagefurniture.ca