20 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 11, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville Y supports a member in time of need hen Liana P. faced the most challenging journey of her life, her friends and family were there to support her, and so was the YMCA of Oakville. In August 2004, Liana's husband, Mike, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia after feeling unwell for a few weeks. He was just 34 years old. Suddenly, their lives, and that of their daughters, Brianah, then 2, and Regan, 4, were thrown into a tailspin. Liana set aside her work as a counsellor to spend every day with Mike at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. While family members and friends W helped out at home, Liana devoted every moment to Mike and to the girls. The illness imposed a financial burden on the family, too. Liana wondered if the children's swimming lessons and other programs at the Y were too much for the family finances. "So I went to the Y and spoke to Patty Mills," Liana recalls. "She told me about the fee assistance program, which enabled the girls to keep swimming, and helped me to continue my exercising." Liana had been a Y member for 10 years. "I loved doing yoga when I was pregnant," she says. While she put everything else in her life on hold when Mike became ill, she realized that she had to make time for fitness. "Working out at the Y was the only thing that saved me from feeling sorry for myself and becoming depressed," says Liana. With her trainer Lisa Newman's encouragement, Liana visited the Y as many as six days a week. "Sometimes I cried on the treadmill, and Lisa would rub my shoulder to comfort me," she says. With his wife and mother at his side, Mike lost his struggle with cancer on Sept. 17, 2005. Looking back, Liana says: "The Y was so wonderful to help us out as a family until we were able to stand on our feet again." Today, Liana and the girls are moving on with their lives as they cherish the memory of their beloved husband and father. And they'll always be grateful to the Y and its warm and caring staff for being there for them in their time of need. Did you know that your gift to the Y's Strong Kids annual giving campaign helps families like Liana's? You can help the Y to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities by calling Deborah Thomson at the Y at 905-845-5597, ext. 317. Give your time, your talent or your treasures. -- Submitted by the YMCA of Oakville. goodbye, old windows -- it's time for a fresh, new look! SAVE NOW on beautiful Pella® replacement windows and doors. · Wide variety of styles to choose from. · Shop at home with a Pella professional. · Relax, we install. · Financing available.1 $ 50 off $ each installed Pella 1 replacement window 200 off each installed Pella 1 replacement patio door Take advantage of new federal grants available through ecoENERGY Retrofit! 2 Hurry, sale ends soon! Call, stop by, or visit www.ontario.pella.com to request your free consultation. PELLA WINDOW & DOOR SHOWROOMS 1195 North Service Road West (QEW Between 3rd Line and 4th Line) Oakville 6400 Shawson Drive (West of Dixie Road, North of Hwy. 401 at Courtney Park) Mississauga 1820 Bayview Avenue (Just North of Eglinton, Parking in Rear) Toronto 1398 Wellington Road South (Just South of Hwy. 401, off Wilton Grove) London 1-800-320-7937 window and door replacement See stores for details. Certain restrictions may apply. Must be installed by Pella professionals. Financing available to qualified customers only. Not valid with any other offer or promotion. Valid for replacement projects only. Offers end 05/31/07. 2 ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement windows and doors are eligible for a $30 per unit grant through the ecoENERGY Retrofit program for homes. Visit ecoaction.gc.ca for full program details. © 2007 Pella Corporation 1