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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 4, 2008 - 19 Sister is inspiration for cross-country trek By Joanna Phillips SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Matt Bursey calls Oakville home, but in his bid to cycle 12,000 km in support of people with disabilities, he will be depending on communities along the way to help him and his cause. The 25-year-old Bursey has a younger sister, Erinn, 22, with Down Syndrome. She has provided him with the inspiration to dedicate himself to helping the developmentally disabled. Bursey is an employee at Lawson Ministries -- a unit of the Salvation Army that deals with developmentally challenged individuals. Bursey began his cycling journey yesterday, with a Bon Voyage launch scheduled at Lawson Ministries in Hamilton. He will be passing through Woodstock, London, Chatham, and Windsor on his way into the United States. His mission takes him as far as San Diego, California, where he will head north to Vancouver -- his final destination. Bursey said he decided to dedicate himself to making a difference in the lives of the developmentally disabled about six months ago when he was teaching English in Korea. It was there he conceived the idea to cycle across the continent to raise funds and awareness for the Salvation Army. Along the way, he will be stopping at ice field my whole life," Bursey said. "My experience doesn't come from [taking it in school], but from volunteering, Special Olympics...I eventually fell into it [social services], and got really good at it," he said. Bursey estimates the trip will take about four to six months. He'll be listening to his body, making sure he doesn't injure himself, and heeding to the weather to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Bursey ran in a 30 km marathon last Sunday, and has been preparing well in advance to get his lungs and legs ready for the journey. In wintry weather, he spends one to two hours a day on an indoor track. Otherwise, he cycles outside. Major Byron Jacobs, secretary for public relations and development for the Salvation Army's Ontario Lakes Division, is overcome with pride at Bursey's commitment and goodwill. "This is an exciting thing for the Salvation Army, [in terms of] raising awareness, and dollars too," he said. Bursey hopes to raise $100,000 for the new Salvation Army Autism program to operate in downtown Hamilton. Bursey graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Oakville. NOTICE OF STUDY COMMENCEMENT Transportation Corridor Improvements Ninth Line (Regional Road 13) from Dundas Street (Regional Road 5) to Upper Middle Road (Regional Road 38), Town of Oakville Class Environmental Assessment Study Matt Bursey and his sister Erinn centres and schools to talk about attitudes towards people with developmental disabilities. "I've been involved in the social serv- o Stir Fry fple to walk o e first 50 ph the door on g throu pening Day* Grand O FREE r the GRAND OPENING GALA! Saturday April 5, 2008 r Shopppes on Dundas at Dundas & Prince Michael 1 km west of 403 3 1194 Dundas St. East · Oakville · L6H 7E4 · 905.257.4661 CONTESTS · GREAT FOOD! GREAT EA Mr. Nick Zervos, C.E.T. 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Doors open Saturday 10 am - 7 pm Hectic Schedule ... no dinner ... no problem! Mr. Robert McLaughlin, P. Eng. Stir-Fry Entree Salad Soup Sides Pasta www.halton.ca/EAprojects 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 040408 *To learn more about Frescos, our Stir Fry giveaway and online ordering, visit www.FrescosOakville.com