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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 7, 2008 - 15 Cycling team races across America for Sick Children's Hospital Picture this: A road without end that spirals up into the mountains. On that road, eight local cyclists push their screaming muscles for the drive to the top. Their reward (aside from coming down the mountain) is a blistering stretch of flat, uninviting desert blacktop that ends where the sun is rising. The temperature will climb higher than the mountains they've just left. This will be a long day. This is the Race Across America (RAAM) -- a 5,000 km, 24/7 cycle from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland --the world's most demanding endurance race. So why would a group of local cycling enthusiasts be the only team from Canada (four from Oakville) to enter the world's toughest bicycle race and entertain the kind of pain and fatigue that would do a Spartan proud? Charity. Team Racer Sportif/Mattamy Homes (named after the two key sponsors) is riding to raise $100,000 for Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children to support pain management programs and research into practical solutions to alleviating pain in children. No matter how much pain these cyclists endure, they know that the pain of a child is far greater. Peter Gilgan, owner of Oakville's Mattamy Homes, has long been committed to raising funds for SickKids and has sponsored a number of successful cycling fundraising events. This year he wanted to put a crown on the commitment to SickKids and called on Dennis Mizerski, owner of Oakville's Racer Sportif, to build a team of local athletes to train for and enter RAAM. "I can't think of a more demanding test for a cyclist than RAAM," said Gilgan. "I think those who have been involved with me through the years have been building toward this achievement. Riding for 5,000 km non-stop is a life-changing experience and doing it while raising funds for children who suffer indescribable pain from diseases such as Cancer will make the experience completely worthwhile." Team Racer Sportif/Mattamy Homes has spent months training for RAAM and has had to replace a few original members for various reasons. Team architect and captain, Dennis Mizerski was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and had to withdraw. Also, Gilgan, had professional commitments that could not be rescheduled. Both men still remain heavily involved in the project as key sponsors and organizers. Other heavyweight sponsors include Lafarge, AIG (American International Group) and Lombard Canada. The Race Across America begins on June 11 with teams from all over the world. It takes five to six days for top teams to complete the race. Team Racer Sportiff/Mattamy Homes hope that you would consider making a pledge to SicKids Foundation on behalf of a rider and bring the team closer to its goal of raising $100,000. For more information on Team RacerSportif/Mattamy Homes, its cause and how to help, visit http://www.raceforsickkids.com. SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER READY TO RACE: Members of Team Racer Sportif/Mattamy Homes are (l-r) Mark Parsons, Frank Mizerski, Brad Lewis, Paul Millar, Mckenzie Parsons, Doug McInnis, Tim Buckley and Kirk Schiza. GET TOP MARKS WITH 2501 Third Line (At Dundas) · (905)849-454 46 www.walkerschocolates.ca Halton Healthcare Services Corporation Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2008 Oakville Conference Centre · 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 6:00 p.m. Wine & Cheese Reception 7:00 p.m. Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony By-law changes will be recommended. Audited financial statements will be available at the meeting or by calling the Hospital Administration Office at 905-338-4616.