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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 10 Recognized for his Courage to make change by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver When Wayne Westby's wife brought home literature on World Vision Canada, neither of them knew how it would change their lives -- or the impact they would have on the organization. It was about 10 years ago the couple started sponsoring a boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the Sponsor a Child program, which provides the child's community with necessities like clean water, medical clinics, food supplies and books. "Their mission and focus on children aligned with our values," Westby said. "With the sponsorship, it is great to have that connection related to the donation. You get updates on the child, his family, his education." When Westby started running road races, he decided to ask people to support him with donations as part of Team World Vision. The program provides runners with training tips and schedules, networking and support, an online pledge page and information on how donations will help. Westby has raised funds through four races. He has raised more than $21,000 and found sponsors for 44 children. In 2013, he travelled to Mozambique and Malawi to visit three of his sponsored World Vision's Executive Vice-President Michael Messenger (left) awards Oakville's Wayne Westby the World Vision Courage Award for his dedication to World Vision and its Sponsor a Child program. | photo courtesy World Vision children. For his dedication, he recently received a Courage Award. World Vision created the Courage Award to honour outstanding volunteers. It is named after the award's first recipients, Oakville's Todd and Trent Courage. K a r a s t a n A r e a R u g s The brothers founded the Courage Polar Bear Dip, which has raised more than $1 million to provide clean water to people in Africa. Westby said he was "totally humbled" by the recognition when he received his award at World Vision Canada's Heroes for Children Awards last month. "It was definitely an honour to be in the room with the people who were there. It was really inspiring," he said. "I now really want to take my life and make it worth the acknowledgement and worth the recognition." Westby is already on his way. He will run a half marathon in Vancouver in May and plans to do a marathon in the fall. His wife, Alice, also now works at World Vision. Their daughters, aged seven and five, have even taken up the cause by running lemonade stands and bake sales. "Wayne stood out this year because he has taken his passion for running and used it to help change the world for hundreds of children and families," said Michael Messenger, executive vice-president of World Vision Canada. "Through his involvement with Team World Vision, Wayne has been an enthusiastic team member who has encouraged many other runners to run in order to help children." · M i r a g e H a r d w o o d Peerless Carpeting · Buyers Edge Guarantee · 200 Store Buying Power Persian BeSt Quality. BeSt Service. BeSt PriceS! DIAMOND PLATINUM Rugs Open House February 7th 10 am - 2 pm THIS WEEK'S up to SUPER DEAL! iNStallatiON & uNderPad iNcluded! · 1/2 Price any carpet Style $ Peerless Carpeting · Berber · Twist · Plush · Shag · Textured Berber Installed with underpad 2.99 /sq.ft. nEw KARAStAn & DESiGnER RUGS · 200 AREA RUGS M i r a g e $ 5' X 8' StARtinG At 99 opeN SuNDAYS · K a r a s t a n C a r p e t i n g · Store Buying Following locations only: SuperStore Power trafalgar village, (across from Oakville Go Station) Oakville 905.849.4472 H a rd w o o d 228 KiNg St. e. Hamilton 905-546-1921 P e r s i a n R u g s