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3 · Friday, November 23, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog all for the asking: Spencer West, ambassador for Me to We and Free the Children, was the guest speaker at the YMCA of Oakville's Peace Week Breakfast. We must ask for help By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Spencer West lost his legs when he was five years old, but doesn't believe he is handicapped. He balks at asking for help and relishes challenge -- he climbed to Mount Kilimanjaro's summit last summer. Yet, he told more than 450 people at the YMCA of Oakville's Breakfast for Peace Thursday, that to create peace one must ask for help. "We can't do it alone. We need everyone's help. It starts with some incredible individuals, but collectively we need to do it together. So when we start to redefine possible or create peace, we need to ask for help," he said. "I knew, when I was going to climb Kilimanjaro, I couldn't do it by myself. I was going to need to be with my two best friends." Without David Johnson and Alex Meers, West would not have reached the summit, as they helped carry him over rough spots. And when they suffered altitude sickness on summit day, he returned the help by slowing down the trek until they could all reach the peak together. West regaled the audience at the Oakville Conference Centre, where the Y handed out Peace Medallions to residents who have worked for peace, locally and beyond. An American who calls Toronto home, he is a Me to We and Free the Children ambassador. At the breakfast, West shared his story, including how a birth defect (sacral agenesis) forced the See West page 10 Chartwell Retirement Residences across Canada are inviting Canadian veterans and a guest to join us for a complimentary lunch as our way of saying "thank you". At Chartwell, we believe it is the duty of all Canadians never to stop saying "thank you" to our veterans. It is but a small gesture to those who have offered such a great sacrifice to our country. Please contact us to arrange your personal visit. Veterans will also receive a copy of Chartwell's book HONOUR, which features the stories of 35 quiet heroes 65 years after the end of WWII. The Educational Journey of a Lifetime An Oakville Day School for Girls Preschool to Grade 12 Join us at our fall Open House on November 29th (9:00-11:00 am) Register on our website under "Register Here for Events". Busing available. Canadian Accredited Independent Schools Charitable Registration # 11919 1963 RR0001 Visit us online at www.chartwellreit.ca St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, 1080 Linbrook Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 2L1 Tel: 905-845-2386 · Fax: 905-845-4799 Email: info@smls.on.ca · Website: www.smls.on.ca Making People's Lives Better