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3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 8, 2009 Teddy bear collection is first hurdle Continued from page 1 idea, but I started noticing I was a little different when I would use markers and the other kids used pencils and stuff like that," said Burke. "It slowly takes your vision and last year I had a big decrease in my vision. In my right eye I can't see anything. In my left eye it's really distorted and a lot dimmer than what you would see. It's not very usable vision." The progression of RP required Burke to leave Appleby College for W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, a school for the visually impaired. Initially devastated by the realization that she would not be able to do things like drive a car or play her previously enjoyed sports of soccer and tennis, Burke eventually came to accept her situation and today is thriving in the face of her disability. Like most other teenage girls, Burke enjoys hanging out with her friends, shopping, and is also into singing and writing songs for her, as of yet unnamed, rock band. Unlike most other teenagers, however, Burke also spends a fair chunk of her time volunteering for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a Canadian Health charity that has, to date, given more than $16 million to cutting-edge ocular research that is taking place at hospitals and universities across the country. As a youth ambassador for the foundation, since the age of four, Burke has spoken to countless audiences in an effort to educate people about what it's like to struggle with blindness and to deliver hope to those suffering from visual impairment. As if this was not enough, Burke also turned her recent birthday into a fundraiser for the foundation, which saw around $28,000 donated. "I've realized this makes me who I am and I wouldn't be the person I am if it hadn't happened to me," said Burke. "Everybody faces challenges at some time in life, some are bigger than others, but you just have to keep going and that's what makes you a stronger person." In early March, this strength was noticed by the CEO of Miss Teen Canada International, who called Burke's home after reading a newspaper article about her. The woman explained the Miss Teen Canada International Pageant was not of the swimsuit contest variety, but rather focuses on inner beauty and seeks a young woman who has the passion and desire to help others. With the criteria laid out, the CEO invited Burke and her mother to an information session in Toronto. "I went down and I heard about it and it sounded like a really good opportunity, so I went in for my inter- view and the next day they called me and told me I was going to be representing Oakville. They gave me the title of Miss Teen Oakville," said Burke. While Burke became Miss Teen Oakville with relative ease, even qualifying to compete in the pageant is proving anything but. One requirement is to gather 2,000 new and used teddy bears for the Teddy Bears of Hope Project, which will see the bears given to needy children in Uganda. So far, she has amassed 800 bears. Once the teddy bear task is complete, Burke must begin preparing for the grueling nine-day pageant process. "We have a scholastics test on math, English and history, there's a fitness test. For the pageant night itself, there's no swimsuit contest, but you do wear an evening gown and there is an interview part," said Burke. "After they pick the top six girls they'll bring them on stage and ask them a random question and they have to answer right on the spot. There are a lot of group dances, but the winner is not chosen based just on that one night. It's really based on the entire nine days, on her attitude towards everyone, how she respected everyone, how she worked at times of stress, the scholastics test, all of that." Burke noted she can do all this, including the dance numbers, as long as she has the opportunity to practice and learn the moves. If successful, in addition to the title of Miss Teen Canada International, Burke will receive a scholarship to the learning institution of her choice and a trip to Uganda where she will personally distribute the bears to needy children. Burke would also spend a year speaking at schools across Canada about teen issues and about the importance of the Teddy Bears of Hope Project. With the pageant on July 25, Burke remarked on what a difference a year makes. Anyone interested in donating a teddy bear or stuffed animal to help Burke and the children of Uganda can drop them off at the Oakville YMCA, located at 410 Rebecca St., or at the Oakville Fire Department Headquarters, 125 Randall St. Burke requests the bears be donated with a personal note to the children of Uganda and a toonie to pay for the bear's cleaning and shipping although donations of toonies or bears by themselves would also be appreciated. FRESH Bright eye-catching style SPRING Fashion. LA ALL! 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