www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 30, 2013 | 6 There's a different story behind every rider Local participants share why they're participating in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer children, has been a family doctor in Oakville since 2006 and is a 27-year cancer survivor. This will be his third time participating in the Ride and says he continues to take part to progress the research that allowed him to expand his growing family. At the age of 32 and following a surgery to remove a lump on his right testicle, Jacobson said he was concerned about not being able to have more children, especially after the radiation treatment to follow. "I was Teddy Jacobson told about some research that showed routine radiation was perhaps unnecessary; especially in my situation where I wanted to have more children, it (radiation) would have further decreased my sperm count," he said. Jacobson explained that there was enough research to show in cases like his, he could forego radiation after his surgery if he made sure to have close followups, including blood tests and scans, with his doctor. "I opted for that and happily within a couple of years, my wife and I had another daughter," he said. "I can say because of the research that showed I didn't necessarily need to have that radiation, we were successful in having another child, so that's a big part of it." · · · by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Spotlight "Connected to your Community" E very rider may have their own personal reason as to why they are taking part in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, but they share a common goal -- to defeat the disease. For local family doctor Teddy Jacobson, Oakville Trafalgar High School student Joanna Kadwell, and 26-year-old resident Elliot Schaefer, their stories hit close to home -- Jacobson is a cancer survivor and Schaefer lost both of his grandfathers to cancer, while Kadwell, one of the youngest to ride in the fundraising event, is continuing the ght of her cousin, Jennifer Kadwell, who died from the devastating disease last year on Joanna's birthday. "I'm nervous, but also excited to represent the younger generation and really excited to join all the participants ghting for the same thing," Kadwell, 16, said of taking part in the Ride. The Grade 11 student, in fact, wanted to join the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2012 but was under the 16-year-old age requirement to do so. Last October, when Kadwell was about to turn 16, her cousin Jennifer was the rst to donate to her ride -- unfortunately, Jennifer passed away from her ve-year battle with stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma on Kadwell's birthday on Oct. 22, 2012. "I'm the youngest granddaughter on that (Kadwell) side of the family and I felt although I may be the youngest, I really wanted to honour her (Jennifer) because she was my role-model and I really wanted to do something for her." · · · Above, Joanna Kadwell, a Grade 11 student of Oakville Trafalgar High School, is one of the youngest participants in this year's Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. Joanna will ride for her cousin, Jennifer Kadwell, who passed away on Joanna's birthday last year from stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma. At right, Elliot Schaefer, seen here biking through trails in South America in 2010, is riding for his grandfathers, who both died of cancer. | above photo by Hannah Yoon Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @ halton_photog), photo at right courtesy of Elliot Schaefer died from the disease -- one when he was at a young age and another in his teens. A kayaker, mountain climber and avid bike rider, Schaefer decided to join the Ride after his mother, Chris, suggested it as a way to honour his grandfathers. · · · Jacobson, 59 and a father of four Schaefer experienced the pain and loss of those suffering from cancer twice when his grandfathers both The sixth annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is set to take place from June 8-9 and bene ts The Campbell Family Institute at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Thousands will embark on the two-day, 200-kilometre cycling journey between Toronto and Niagara. This year, participants will be able to choose from six different option routes to ride -- details on each route are available online at http://bit.ly/151VDJD. For more information on each of the local participants or to donate to the cause, visit www.conquercancer.ca, click on the DONATE link at the top and search for Joanna Kadwell, Teddy Jacobson, or Elliot Schaefer. NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher Volume 51 | Number 64 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Regional General Manager Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Halton Region Editor in Chief ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor