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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 23, 2010 · 36 Running was an outlet for Keane to deal with grief Continued from page 35 moments in life, is this it? Is this my life? I think the big story is, no it's not. We can find a way, and I did," Keane says. "I got my life back on track... only to be derailed again in much different ways." Running brought comfort That sad derailment came in April of 2009, when Daniel, quietly and bravely fighting depression on his own, took his own life at the age of 23. All of a sudden, the physical pain that Keane had fought through to continue running seemed so trite. "We were so incredibly close," she remembers. "Daniel and I had this special bond. What shocked a lot of people was that he didn't reach out to me, but the point is he couldn't. It's such a debilitating disease, much as so many other diseases, but we see them and we fix them. What we can't see, we can't fix... We never got a chance to even try, and the courageous ones are ultimately often the ones who end up dying because they face it on their own." Feeling paralyzed by grief, Keane turned to what often brought her comfort in life. A week after Daniel's passing, she went for a run with husband Bruce driving the truck behind her in case she couldn't continue. Keane eventually waved him off and finished the run. Running had gone from a cause of pain to a source of relief. "It was clearing my head and a place where I could talk to my son. I realized that if I went back to what felt comfortable, it might be okay," Keane says. "I went back to what felt right. "For someone else, it might be something different. Painting, playing an instrument... an outlet. Whatever gets you up and gets you excited in a day, or even what gets you forward." Not that it was easy. Keane relied on supportive running partners like Janet Shaugnessy and Lynne Benjamin to keep her going, and she sometimes ran with groups in town. "To be in groups of people that were runners was helpful," Keane says. "There is hope" Keane not only runs regularly once again. She also competes in triathlons, and with a definite purpose. Through the Tri Dreams program, Keane has raised approximately $25,000 for the Kerr Street Ministries' Dream Centre, a facility that opened a couple months ago and represents hope and opportunity for many of Oakville's most vulnerable residents. The new building features an expanded food bank and meal drop-in centre, full-sized gymnasium, children and youth program areas, a chapel and a computer lab. The gymnasium is dedicated in honour of Daniel, who was active in many different sports and coached youth basketball. Through her work with the Dream Centre, Keane hopes at-risk youth will learn that they never have to suffer alone. "It's still tough for a young person, and I'll say young guys, to be very honest and open with stuff that's going on. That's the crime," she says. "The stigma is not being able to speak or to feel you'll disappoint somebody or you don't want to let someone down. "Go ahead and let somebody down, because it's far better than the alternative," she continues. "That's my battlecry. "Kids who are facing difficulties can hopefully see some of the things I'm enduring and they can realize we all have trouble in our lives, but we can always try to find a way. "That's the message. There is hope." NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Civitan Charity Golf Classic Volunteers needed for Labour Day Half Volunteers are needed to assist with this year's Oakville Labour Day Half, 10K and 2K run. The event will take place Labour Day Monday (Sept. 6) at Coronation Park, from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Individual volunteers are needed to act as course marshals, help with handing out medals at the finish, assisting with food distribution and fulfilling other roles. Help is needed at aid stations throughout the course, passing water and Gatorade to runners and assisting participants as needed. Groups and organizations are particularly welcome to assist with the event. Aid stations can be named after groups, businesses or organizations that run them and volunteers can wear matching outfits that display their team/group/organization name. All high school students will receive community service hours for their assistance and all volunteers will receive a T-shirt as well as a fun experience. Individual volunteers can fill out an online form at www.oakvillehalfmarathon.com/individual.htm For more information, email Monika Mielczarek of Landmark Sport Group at mmielczarek@landmarksport.com PHOTOS BY ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER The Civitan Club of Oakville held its third annual Charity Golf Classic Saturday at Glen Abbey Golf Club. In left photo, Lorne Salzman tess off at a hole where a three-year lease on a Mercedes C350 4Matic (pictured in background) would be awarded for a hole in one. Right, Mike Schirald tries to hit his drive nearest to a golf bag on the fairway. The tournament raised approximately $25,000 that will go towards purchasing essential medical equipment for Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.