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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 18, 2008 - 7 Oakville trio cycling across Canada By Erica Timmerman SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER When Andy Brooks was in Winnipeg recently he had the chance to reacquaint himself with his friend Marissa. While the crew for the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride (SNKCR) set up the community ride and ceremony at Polo Park Mall, Brooks walked over with his guide dog Boston to where she sat. They met in May at New Heights, a camp for teenagers with cancer. Although 16-year-old Brooks is now in remission, he continues to go so he can see his friends, have fun rock climbing and sit around the campfire. Marissa, who is 15 and suffers from a painful cancer along her spinal cord, still has many rounds of chemotherapy to go. She is so proud of Brooks cycling across Canada that she had to see him when he stopped in her hometown. "What an incredible person. It is just so courageous what he is doing and so inspiring." Marissa is one of the many sick kids Brooks gets to meet while crossing the country with 49 other cyclists -- including Oakville residents Madelyn Smith and Dan Watt. Jeff Rushton, founder of SNKCR, challenged cyclists to ride from Vancouver to Halifax in just 19 days on behalf of children's cancer. Each cyclist needed to raise $12,000 to be part of the team. With the help of his high school, neighbours, friends and family, Brooks has raised an impressive $50,000 by telling people his story. Doctors diagnosed Brooks with brain cancer at the age of three. He had to go through 90 adult doses of radiation and 11 hours of neurosurgery to rid himself of most of the tumour. After 10 years of medication, he successfully went in remission, only to become epileptic and lose the majority of his eyesight, making him legally blind. "I remember a year ago Andy was sitting on the couch saying he was too afraid to leave the house because he felt so vulnerable. He didn't think he could ever walk on his own again," said Janice Brooks, Andy's mother. "And now look at him. He is outside everyday doing something many people wouldn't even consider to do." So far Brooks has cycled thousands of kilometers, riding in the Rocky Mountains and along stretches of lonely prairies. The team set out from Vancouver, B.C. on June 2 and has continued to ride by relay every day since. There are three groups, with three different levels of intensity. Brooks is in group three, or as they like to call themselves The Outspoken, because of their willingness to be open about everything. He may be in the slowest group, but at 25 km an hour, averaging about 200 km a day, it is quite an accomplishment for a teenager, who hardly rode a bike at all less than a year ago. "A year ago I was fat, lazy and on the couch. I didn't have the motivation to be active," said Brooks, " Once I decided to do this, things changed dramatically. Everything was different, I got active, I got motivated, I now want to help people." Brooks has the support of his whole LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Above left, members of the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride make at stop in Oakville. Of the 50 riders, three are from Oakville: Madelyn Smith, Dan Watt and Andy Brooks. family for the ride. His mother even volunteered as the team's nurse and his dog Boston was allowed to join in the van, unofficially becoming the team's mascot. Because of his limited eyesight, Brooks rides tandem with Peter Murk, one of the other national cyclists. Murk has taught Brooks how to train hard so they can have fun on the road and it proves to be working. "I think he has an incredible amount of potential and I have been impressed by his progress," said Murk. With the long hours on the road and many of them at night, the team has suffered sleep deprivation. His health has become ragged while on this trip but his heart is still strong for the cause. "Kids with cancer have to deal with chemotherapy 24/7 and you know I only have to deal with this ride for 19 days," said Brooks. "I think I can spare my time. I can put up with the pain of cycling when I know what it's like with what they are going through." One man, Brooks remembers, saw him in an A&W and came up to hug him and buy his meal. "He saw me on CanadaAM that morning as we began our ride in Vancouver and thought what I was doing was really special," said Brooks. "In fact, everyone in the restaurant recognized me." Brooks and the team stopped at Oakville Place Friday, so people could register to join them on a 25-km ride to Toronto, ending at the Sick Children's Hospital. The ride is scheduled to wind up on Friday in Halifax N.S. Where students come to excel & prosper Queen's College (G. 6-12) is still open for Fall 2008. We offer a unique bridge program for ESL students. We are very special in the following aspects. Small class size Day and evening classes Intensive ESL programs After-school tutoring University Prep Courses SAT & TOEFL testing centre AP program Summer & Winter Camp SUMMER SPECIAL PROGRAMS 2008 Our summer special programs will enrich your children with fun and a competitive learning environment. Preview Courses (G. 6-12 ) for English, Math, Science Summer Camp (G.3-6): 5 hrs/day and Field trip/week Customized University-Prep Courses are available. www.queens-college.com 905-804-1164