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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 24, 2014 | 6 Everyone must consider donating Generally, Canadians are looked upon as a giving people. In times of natural disaster or con ict, abroad we often are among the rst to lend a hand. Even on a local level, we consider ourselves to be selfless, often eagerly contributing to any cause in so many ways. Why then, when it comes to organ donation do we have such an abysmal record? The registration rate to be an organ donor is 30 percent in Oakville -- 31 per cent in neighbouring Burlington. Public awareness campaigns and countless stories of grateful organ recipients appears to have done precious little to help increase organ donation in Canada. The ongoing critical need for people to donate is both disheartening and staggering. While any increase is positive, the lengthy wait time for a donor is hardly impressive, especially if you're the patient desperate for an organ that may never come. In the Jan. 23, 2014 Oakville Beaver, we revisited the life of Jennifer Malabar, who received a kidney transplant, thanks to the organ donation by her husband, Hitesh Patel. The Crown Counsel with the Ontario Ministry of Labour is doing well -- lifesaving news for herself, as well as her husband and their young daughter, not to mention the couple's son, Sage, born in November 2013. Not long after getting back on her feet, Malabar was among the biggest supporters of the Oakville Be a Donor campaign supported by local transplant recipients like herself, Town councillors and others. Next week, the Beaver will update readers on the story of Oakville resident Keith Childerhose, who received a lifesaving double-lung transplant just a year ago. Today, the father of four is newly remarried and doing well. Childerhose literally received the breath of life, a second chance, and is making the most of it. They are among a handful of Oakville residents who have bene tted -- a gentle description of the reality that they are still with us and their families -- because of organ donation. One donor can save up to eight lives and help up to 75 others, according to Danielle Milley, media relations adviser of the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN). Remember, a signed donor card doesn't mean you're registered. Today, the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has a registry where people, aged 16 and older with an Ontario Health Card, can of cially record their consent to organ and tissue donation. Residents can register online at www.beadonor.ca, in person at a ServiceOntario Centre or through the mail by completing a Gift of Life consent form. The TGLN is a not-for-pro t agency of the Ontario government that manages organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Ontario. It works with hospitals, transplant programs and tissue banks to ensure the best possible outcomes for donor families and those waiting for a life-saving transplant. TGLN is responsible for managing deceased donation. Living donation is managed by Canadian Blood Services. There are 1,500 men, women and children in Ontario waiting for a life-saving organ. Maybe you can help. Editorial 1 0 0 W O M E N W H O "Connected to your Community" C A R E 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 11 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 Director of Production On Jan. 21, members of 100 Women Who Care, a local fundraising group that meets quarterly and whose members contribute funds in support of various local charities, gathered at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The group has approximately 70 members and is looking for new people to join. Speaking at the meeting was Britta Martini-Miles, executive director of The Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children, who thanked the members for their $4,600 donation to the Lighthouse program. | photo by James Hoggett ­ special to the Beaver SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Letters to the editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Help support Kim Kelly's ride to P .E.I. Re: Special constable rides to `cross out' cancer, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, Oakville Beaver Thank you Oakville Beaver for your continued support and excellent reporting about local causes. As described in the Jan. 15 Beaver, my bike journey from Halton to P .E.I. is to make a difference to the journey cancer patients and their families go through. For updates, and ways to support this cause "To cross out cancer," visit kimsridetocrossoutcancer.com. Thank you. Kim Kelly Burlington Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Please protect pooches' feet from salt and ice We left a remarkably funny performance by the BurlOak Theatre Group one recent Friday night called Leading Ladies. While waiting for my husband to bring around the car, I heard the most pitiful sound of an old dog howling. No, I do not believe it had been hit by a vehicle. I truly believe it had a piece of salt stuck between the pads of its paws. It was clearly having dif culty walking. The poor dog's mournful cries put a sorrowful end to an evening of pure, unadulterated fun. Dog owners, I beg you, I know it is necessary to take your pets for "walkies," but please spare a thought for their poor feet in this terrible weather. Purchase some bootees from the pet stores to protect their feet. I know it may be dif cult to get your dogs to co-operate but think of the agony of their poor feet. It was a terrible end to an absolutely delightful evening. Suzanne Whiteley Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON, L7L 7G5, 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.