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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 3, 2013 | 12 Local `cat hero' raises $6K for rescued felines, OMHS by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville's Andrew Shannon raised more than $6,000 for the rescued cats at the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS), making it the largest donation by a single person locally to the cause. When Shannon, 50, first heard of the rescue of more than 100 cats from a Halton Hills home in September, he decided to take part in the Oakville Half Marathon (held Sept. 22) and privately raise money to help the felines and the local shelter -- the Shannons own two rescue cats themselves. With his company agreeing to match any donation he raised, Shannon collected $6,200 for the cause. "(My wife) Marion and I are overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. Our original estimate was just more than $1,000 and to exceed this by six times really blew us away," he said. "We are also very surprised to hear about the impact of the (previous) article in the Beaver. One (reader) actually tracked us down and called us at the house to find out where she could send a cheque. She was so gracious on the phone and three days later, we received a cheque for $100." Shannon also decided to run the half marathon dressed as a cat in an effort to garner more awareness for the cause and help the OMHS -- the shelter had close to 300 felines already in its care, prior to the rescue. "There were a lot of smiles and smirks and `cat calls' prior to and during the race," he said. "I have to admit, I was more than a bit hesitant when Marion came up with the idea to dress like a cat but when a number of people had read the Super HALTON LEARNING FOUNDATION message about the cats on the back of my shirt and came up to say, `great cause' and `way to go,' I have to say that increasing this type of awareness made it worthwhile." Attributing part of the success to his wife and his coworker Wendy Shelly, who both helped organize the campaign, Shannon says it was those who contributed to the cause that made the most difference. "It was the people that donated who made it such an enormous success: my colleagues, business partners, our family and friends. We are truly surrounded by very generous and warm people in our lives and ultimately without their support we could not have raised so much so quickly," he said. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little spark to ignite people behind a worthy cause." Those interested in making a donation to help in the cats' care can do so by visiting www.omhs. ca and indicating `cat rescue' in the notes section on the online donation page -- 100 per cent of the donation will be used to help the rescued cats. A wish list for necessary items can also be found at the OMHS website. Andrew Shannon (front) runs in the Oakville Half Marathon on Sept. 22 dressed as a cat. 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