Local cancer survivor gears up for Ride to Conquer Cancer Churck Murray calls himself, `One of the lucky ones' by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Friday, March 18, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com countryside from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The funds raised through The Ride support the Personalized Cancer Medicine, including research, treatment advances, education and new standards of care at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. This month (March), organizers are encouraging people to join a team, start a team or Cancer survivor Chuck Murray considers himself "one of the lucky ones." Sipping on a cup of tea in the living room of his Oakville home, he shares with the Oakville Beaver how early detection of malignant melanoma in 2002, coupled with advancements made in research helped saved his life. His oncologist at the time told him a national database tracking the growth of the skin cancer and its relation to the spread of the disease prompted doctors to do more than just remove the cancerous mole on his back. Other cases in the database, established just three years before Murray's diagnosis of the highly dangerous form of skin cancer, showed there was about a four per cent chance of the disease spreading to other areas, despite the melanoma being shallow in depth. "Without that database, they wouldn't have checked," said the 49-year-old, who has lived in Oakville for 14 years. "It would've gone through my lymph nodes, gone through my body and by the time they would've found it, it would've been too late." "My life was literally saved by establishing a recruit team members as part of the Team Up Challenge. Perks for the top five teams that add the most new riders, current riders and/or fill pre-bought spots include access to a VIP hospitality tent at the finish line and a kilometre of the cycling route dedicated to your team. Murray, who has been cancer-free for 14 see Cancer on p.10 SAVE Vehicle Maintenance BIG Sp ecial * $ Includes: 69. 95 * Plus taxes. A p p l i e s to m o s t cars & light trucks. · Complete Vehicle Inspection brakes, steering, suspension, lights, belts, uids and more, plus a Digital Vehicle Repor t Card · Oil and lter change **up to 5L of oil (synthetics, gaskets, environmental fee are extra) Chuck Murray | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver · Batter y & alternator test for cold season · Top up all uids *These ser vice items retail for over $276.75 if purchased separately database," he added. It's for that reason Murray is taking part -- for the sixth time -- in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, which benefits Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto June 11-12. The ride is a two-day cycling event spanning more than 200 kilometres throughout Ontario's Book your a p p o i nt m e nt today (289) 203-0752 Eastside Auto Service 573 Char twell Rd. Oakville eastsideautoser vice.ca (289) 201-3562 Fourth Line Auto Service 559 Speers Rd. Oakville 4thlineauto.com GET THE ULTIMATE IN COMFORT FOR YOUR HOME! 3440 Fairview Street, Burlington Ontario L7N 2R5 Oakville: (905) 827-5585 Burlington: (905) 634-7701 Hamilton: (905) 544-2220 www.broomshvac.ca Save on Top Brands