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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 8, 2016 | 6 Miracles do happen Miracles. Hope. Words synonymous with Canadian hero and legend Terry Fox. Despite the formidable foe cancer has proven to be -- to all of us -- there's no reason not to hope the miracle of nding a cure will occur. Miracles do happen. All you need to do is open your eyes to see them. It will be 36 years ago this weekend, Terry Fox set off on his Marathon of Hope. His own belief and his own effort were miraculous. He passed the torch to all of us and we are carrying it -- with the same hope he had. A Canadian teen inspired a nation. A miracle no one saw in the beginning. Two other examples of the fact miracles are all around us took centre stage yesterday (April 7) as the Oakville Terry Fox Run held its kick-off breakfast. No, you haven't missed it. The 36th annual run is set for Sept. 18 at Coronation Park. Yes, it is time to register your team. And no, you don't have to run. And yes, you will have fun. And yes, miracles do happen. Those at Oakville Town Hall yesterday heard from ve-time cancer survivor Sabrina Fuoco-Dunn. With a genetic condition that predisposes her to developing cancer, and with ve rounds of cancer under her belt and a new one just surfacing, Sabrina is a law school graduate, a loving daughter, a speaker, an advocate, a ghter and someone who is full of hope. She's a member of Terry's Team. It may have been her inspirational story, but it was more likely her miraculous hope and positive outlook that brought the crowd to its feet in applause. Next, Dr. Sheila Singh, a cancer researcher, who while explaining detailed knowledge, kept the crowd spellbound with her enthusiasm to making progress in cancer research to achieve what it's all about -- helping people have a chance to live their lives. While many of us, remember yesterday and look to tomorrow, we were reminded we must not ever forget to live in the present. Those facing a health challenge very quickly learn to appreciate the present. Surrounded by signs, bearing caricatures of those who have been lost to cancer -- Terry Fox, former Oakville councillor Max Khan, former Oakville Beaver editor Rod Jerred -- the kickoff speakers reminded people to live now. In fact, after being diagnosed with cancer and facing his mortality, Jerred came to call his remaining time `Bonus Days,' a true appreciation of living for now. Yet, never did he give up hoping for a miracle. Let's keep the hope alive. Let's honour the efforts of those like Terry and Sabrina by participating with friends, family and the community in the Terry Fox Run. You can run, walk, cycle along the lakeside in twokilometre, 5-km or 10-km routes lined with the lawn posters of our loved ones who have died of cancer... all of which will help raise money to fund cancer research and services and programs for those with cancer -- in the hope of seeing the miracle of a cure happen. Oakville has been challenged to raise $182,000 -- $1 for every Oakville resident. Last year, the event raised $117,000. To register, visit terryfox.org and click on the Teams tab or call 1-888-836-9786. Editorial R A I S E T H E F L A G F O R A U T I S M "Connected to your Community" A W A R E N E S S 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 29 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor The Town of Oakville held a ag-raising Monday (April 4) in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2). The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to create awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Oakville Mayor Rob Burton proclaimed April 2 as Autism Awareness Day in town. In Halton, approximately 6,000 people live with ASD, according to Autism Ontario Halton Chapter, with one in 94 children diagnosed with the disorder across Canada. For more information, visit www.raisethe agforautism.com or www.autismontario.com/halton. Pictured, Burton, many Town councillors and Halton Regional Police Deputy Chief Carole Crowe help Raise the Flag for Autism Awareness. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Parent shares story to spread awareness April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day. My son, Andrew, 3, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) April 28, 2015 after months of doctor visits, tests, uncertainty and lack of information. From personal experience as a single parent, this past year has been full of challenges and obstacles to be overcome, a system to be navigated and a lot of outdated methods -- mostly due to lack of knowledge, resources, and understanding of the health care, and social services system here in Ontario, but surely exists across the rest of Canada. According to Autism Speaks Canada, the prevalence of ASD has increased more than 100 per cent in the last 10 years. Autism is now the fastest-growing and most commonly-diagnosed neurological disorder in Canada, and yet not recognized as a health condition by the government, falling under the mandate of the Ontario Ministry of Youth and Child Services. At present, there is no federal government monitoring system (like the US CDC) in place to provide us with accurate statistics on the prevalence of ASDs in Canada even though Letter to the Editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager we do know ASD is the most common form of any neurological disorder or severe developmental disability of childhood. The recent announcement by the Ontario government investing $333 million into autistic care is a great step forward, however, as a parent with an autistic child, I am appalled to see how these dollars are being invested in cutting wait times when the focus should be on making appropriate care available to these children, so they have a chance at becoming self-suf cient contributors to society, at improving patient outcomes. When a child is diagnosed with leukemia or meningitis, immediate action is taken to get the child to the appropriate health-care provider as soon as possible. Autism is a neurological condition, which affects behaviour, speech and social interactions, and the same importance should be applied. Making a child wait three years to receive any type of treatment or therapy is absolutely inhumane. Studies show appropriate therapies applied at earlier ages result in better outcomes for those affected. Don't we want this for our see One on p.7 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. 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