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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday August 5, 2006 - 29 Jason's match is waiting By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Thanks to an appeal, a bone marrow match has been found for Jason Hammerschmidt -- however he's declined the transplant now that his treatment is progressing well. "Now I know it's there when I need it," said Hammerschmidt, 29, who was diagnosed about a year ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer normally found in children. ALL is a cancer of the white blood cells -- the cells that normally fight infections in the human body. The bone marrow match was found through the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry run by Canadian Blood Services, however, he has not been told where the match was found. Hammerschmidt, an Oakville resident employed by Metroland's Corporate IT division in Mississauga, was diagnosed and treated at Princess Margaret Hospital. "I'm finally starting to feel better," he said recently. "Upon the advice of my oncologist I decided I shouldn't proceed with it." Having finished the intensification part of his treatment, a regimen of mostly chemotherapy requiring weekly trips to hospital, Hammerschmidt is currently on a maintenance program. "I'm about half way through my twoand-a-half-year protocol," he said. "It's getting a lot easier for us," said his wife Jacqueline Potoczek, "and he's on fewer drugs. "He took to the chemo very well, so the bone marrow transplant is our back-up plan," she said. Potoczek drives him to hospital for his treatments. The scheduled trips have been reduced to once every three weeks. "The shift to the maintenance cycle is considered a milestone in the protocol for treatment," said Hammerschmidt. UNDERGOING TREATMENT: Jason Hammerschmidt is half way through his treatment for a blood cancer. A transplant is his back-up plan. That happened on July 7. "During intensification, every cycle gets harder and I had to stop work. I'm told maintenance will be easier." Potoczek is grateful to all those who were tested and spoke about the need for bone marrow testing. "I thank everyone who took the time to get tested, and I want them to know how much we appreciate it," she said. "I know there are matches out there if more people get tested. There is still a great need for people to register with the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry. "We are lucky that it (finding a match) happened so quickly for us. Some people don't ever find a match." Hammerschmidt appealed for a bone marrow match in January. If interesting in learning more about donating bone marrow, call 1888-2DONATE or see www.bloodservices.ca ALLIANCE CHIROPODY (FOOT CARE) CLINIC 232 South Service Rd. E. Salima Kassam Registered Chiropodist 905-845-2291 Q: A: My child seems to walk funny - I see no arch and his feet seem to roll inwards. Should I be worried? First annual Terry Fox corporate challenge The Oakville Terry Fox Run is preparing for its first annual Corporate Challenge and invites all businesses and families in Oakville to register now. While the Terry Fox Run does not take place until September, companies and organizations are encouraged to participate throughout the year in raising money to support the Terry Fox Foundation. While new to Oakville this year, the Corporate Challenge has been a part of the Terry Fox Run for many years. Last year, the participation of Corporate Challenge teams alone raised more than $1.6 million across Canada This year Oakville will continue Fox's vision of raising awareness of and funds for cancer research through the involvement of Corporate Challenge teams. Among several Oakville organizations that have already committed to forming a team is Rising Sun Martial Arts on Speers Road. According to Rising Sun's Manager, Bob Moffat, the Terry Fox Run is exactly the kind of event that appeals to his students. "Rising Sun is committed to physical fitness, personal strength and integrity and to continuously improving the community we live in," said Moffat. "Our team members are very respectful of the determination Terry Fox showed Canadians and the rest of the world in running to raise funds while fighting cancer and we operate under the same premise at Rising Sun ­ you can accomplish anything with hard work, dedication and the support of your community. We truly believe in Terry's dream that a cure for cancer can be found and we want to play a role in that." Team Rising Sun has issued a friendly challenge to all teams across Oakville to see which one can raise the most funds in support of the Terry Fox Foundation. To get involved in the Terry Fox Run Corporate Challenge, register online at www.terryfoxrun.org or contact Keri Schoonderwoerd at 905-469-0828 . The 26th Annual Terry Fox Run will be held in Oakville on Sunday, Sept. 17, at Abbey Park Secondary School, 1455 Glen Abbey Gate, next to the Glen Abbey Recreation Centre starting at 10 a.m. The run is a non-competitive event where people get together as individuals, families and groups to raise money in Terry's name by walking, running, in-line skating, or biking a 5-km or 10km route. It is a day of celebrating Fox's legacy and helping to keep his dream of a cure for cancer alive. Many foot ailments, like other body ills, have their origins in childhood and are present at birth. Your child's developing feet are very important to monitor as they have to carry the weight of the body for an entire lifetime. Normal foot development involves a heel-toe gait pattern by age 3 and normal arch development by age 7. Problem signs to keep an eye out for include: · Complaints of joint pain while standing, walking or running, · Knock knees or bow legs, · Uneven wear on the bottom of shoes, · Prior injury to the back, knees or ankles, · Obvious foot problems, such as bunions, corns or flat feet. Remember that lack of complaint is not a good sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that they can be twisted and distorted without the child being aware of it. If you have concerns about your child's feet, contact your chiropodist for a thorough foot evaluation and special shoe fitting advice for children. Call 905-845-2291 to Book An Appointment Today If you have any questions these professionals can answer, please write to: "Ask the Professionals" c/o The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville L6K 3S4 or fax to: 905-337-5568