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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, June 5, 2013 | 6 Editorial Journey is better if made together It takes a team. It takes place rain or shine, snow or sleet. It knows no age, culture or heritage. It is Relay for Life -- the Canadian Cancer Society's best answer to beating cancer -- a signature fundraiser in the battle to conquer the menace. Oakville's edition of the overnight celebration of life and courage took place on the grounds of Appleby College Friday. People, many of whom are cancer survivors or families of those ghting the insidious disease, camped out and took turns walking the track throughout the night. If they were not already, they were guided there by luminaries that glowed around the track -- purchased and lit in memory of those who are ghting or have lost their battle with cancer. Nearly 1,000 people were drawn to the event. Eighty teams took part and 80 survivors led the way in the kickoff Survivors' Lap. More than $250,000 was raised and the tally is still rising. The faces and bodies that have been ravaged by, yet still overcome, the killer disease, were from all walks of life. A memorial luminary glowed brightly for former Oakville Beaver managing editor Rod Jerred -- always a big supporter of this town's Relay for Life -- who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Setting the pace, both with a speech on stage and in the Survivors' Lap, was another Beaver personality, Editor in Chief Jill Davis who was accompanied by her mother, Oakville resident Joan Davis. Both are survivors and both suffered the loss of Stan Davis, Jill's dad and Joan's husband just a handful of weeks ago. There were the faces of those the Oakville Beaver has written about in the past, like Shayna MacDonald. And there were lots of youthful faces like Shayna and Laura Indovina, both now young women. There were girls who have survived the battle -- Emma Carter, a cancer survivor who cut her hair Friday to donate to make a wig, and Cassie Lyons. Leading the Survivors' Lap was Jaiden D'Ambrosio, a survivor young enough to still sit atop his dad Orlando's shoulders chasing bubbles in the pre-event activities. Too many and far too young. Great strides have been made in the ght against cancer -- better treatment, improved prognosis and earlier detection. And cancer is no longer the `C' word in the public psyche. But there are great strides still to be made. The day will come when cancer does not bring fear, uncertainty, dif cult treatment and, sadly, death. But that day can only happen if we all unite, walk together and be brave as we march against a deadly foe. "Relay for Life symbolizes and honours a cancer patient's journey. For the thousands of Canadians ghting cancer right now, their journey is long and hard. From the shock of initial diagnosis, through days of treatment and the long nights that follow for them, cancer never sleeps, so neither do we," said Lisa Dale, fundraising coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society Halton unit. You can still donate at www.relayforlife.ca/oakville. "Connected to your Community" 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Fax: (905) 337-5566 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 66 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager SANDY PARE MARK DILLS If you are driving a car and are hit by -- or hit -- a cyclist it is not enough to ask if the person is OK and then drive off when they say they are ne. This is especially true when the cyclist is 13 years old. The accident happened during a raging storm and the bike is damaged to the point where the wheels no longer rotate. You should ask them if they have a phone to call their parents and, if not, offer your phone for them to call home. Most importantly, you should remain with the child until either the police or a parent arrives. Friday, May 31 around 5:45 p.m. at the Sobeys plaza on Upper Middle and Third Line, our 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son decided to try to race home on their bikes before the storm got really bad. Shortly after starting home, the storm did, indeed, get really bad. The rain was pounding so hard they were trying to shield their eyes and, consequently, did not have their heads up. They proceeded west on the sidewalk and when they were crossing the entrance to the plaza a car was turning in from Upper Middle. Our daughter saw the driver's side door right before impact. The woman driving did get out and ask our daughter if she A lesson in driver/cyclist etiquette Letters to the Editor Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager was OK. When she replied she was ne, apologized for not keeping her head up and said it was probably her fault, the woman got back in her car and left. Fortunately Dad was already on his way to the plaza to try to get them in the car before they got back on their bikes; he arrived two minutes after the woman left the scene. The kids were standing on the sidewalk, our daughter in shock, and our son trying to gure out how to get his sister and two bikes home in a raging storm. Our daughter was not OK; she was in shock and did not know she was hurt, she sustained a broken collarbone and will be on the disabled list for six to 12 weeks. We are very thankful that it is only a broken collarbone as it could have been much worse. We have sat our kids down and went over all of the lessons learned from this incident. Mom should always check the weather forecast before letting the kids go out on their bikes; you should never try to beat a storm or ride bikes with your head down and when you have a cellphone it should always be charged and with you should you need to call home. We hope the female driver will realize that see Review on p.7 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: ATHENA Award The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver. com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The 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.