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36 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2008 Running for Pierce Mother dedicating half marathon to son By Jon Kuiperij The group, along with Horodyski's husband, Arash Arani, will also run for Pierce at the Born with spina bifida, Pierce upcoming Toronto International Arani will never be the fleetest of Marathon. "This is an ongoing thing," foot. Ailments like a tethered spinal Horodyski says. "Some people have cord, lipoma (a fatty tumour) press- pledged (donations) for (Monday), ing on the cord and a syrinx (fluid- some have pledged for Toronto." The Spina Bifida & filled cavity within the spine) will Association of likely challenge him the rest of his Hydrocephalus life, and weakness in his left leg Ontario provides support to families in the province living with spina causes him to fall when he runs. bifida, including supThat's why his moth"We want to port lines, scholarship er runs for him. and advocacy programs, Beth Horodyski will model to Pierce and links to research. dedicate each of the 21.1 that sometimes The association relies kilometres she runs at things are difficult entirely on donations. Monday's Labour Day to do, but if you Pierce's Pacers hope Oakville Half Marathon to raise $3,000 through to her four-year-old son, persevere, you the Labour Day Oakville as she does every time can do it." Half and the Toronto she participates in a Beth Horodyski International race. Marathon. "We want to model to "I don't think they get enough Pierce that sometimes things are difficult to do, but if you persevere, funding to (make research breakyou can do it," says the 37-year-old throughs) quickly," Arani, a family Horodyski. "It doesn't matter if you doctor in town, says. "It will take a win or not. Just doing it is most long time at this rate to find something to prevent spina bifida 100 per important." Horodyski initially asked some of cent. It'd be nice to give something her fellow runners if they wanted to to pregnant women, a vaccine donate a dollar or two towards the against (spina bifida), but the probSpina Bifida & Hydrocephalus lem is spina bifida is set within the Association of Ontario. She was first month of pregnancy." Pierce, fortunately, has one of the overwhelmed by their response. A group of 10 runners (and milder forms of the condition. He counting), called Pierce's Pacers for swims a couple hours a day and has Spina Bifida, will participate in participated in other sports like Monday's race. Pierce's Pacers will Taekwon-Do and basketball -- all be wearing blue, sporting lighting with a sunny disposition that his heart buttons on their backs and parents marvel at. "Despite the fact he's been raising money for spina bifida care See Runners page 38 and research. BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER A MOTHER'S LOVE: Beth Horodyski will dedicate her run in Monday's Labour Day Oakville Half Marathon to her four-year-old son, Pierce, who has spina bifida. Invictas co-founder was `tireless worker' Zaiga (Ziggy) Taylor, one of the people instrumental in bringing the Invictas football program to Oakville, lost her battle with cancer Tuesday in Burlington. Ziggy co-founded the Halton Invictas with her husband, Jack Crawford, 15 years ago. The program expanded to Oakville last season. Ron Lambert, a football referee and a friend of the family, said Ziggy was always willing to do whatever it took to ensure the success of the program. "The word `tireless' I think describes her the best," said Lambert, whose daughter Carly is the girlfriend of Ziggy's son, Jack Jr. "She was a tireless worker in support of anything the association would take on in terms of expanion, training and development, coaching issues... she was right there, supporting Jack with everything, from high-level administration to selling hot dogs. "Ziggy just went above and beyond what I think the traditional spousal support is," he added. "I'm sure if they had to wash uniforms, they'd be washed in her washing machine." Visitation was held last night (Thursday) at Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home in Burlington, and is also scheduled for today (Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.). A funeral service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. If so desired, a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital would be appreciated by the family. Ziggy Taylor was 60 years old. -- Jon Kuiperij Zaiga (Ziggy) Taylor Only $3,700.00 per team! PLUS $625.00 in bar vouchers! www.icesports.com 905-845-6989