The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 28, 2014 | 14 Gabrielle's Ride helping to improve cardiac care by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Gabrielle's Ride raised $80,000 in 2012, its inaugural year, in support of an international conference focused on preventing cardiac stroke in children. The ride's organizers dreamed of such an event, where neurologists and cardiologists could connect and explore how to prevent cardiac strokes, especially in young children. Two years later, the world's first pediatric cardioembolic symposium was held -- Saturday, Feb. 15 -- in San Diego, CA. Speaking at it was Oakville's Nikki Ide, whose daughter Gabrielle Ide Cinanni died on Nov. 9, 2010, of congenital heart disease. The little girl was just five. To honour Gabrielle's memory, while helping children with similar conditions, Ide organized the annual cycling fundraiser Gabrielle's Ride, to help sponsor the World Stroke Congress. Ide shared her daughter's story there. "I think it's important for the attendees of the symposium to understand the story behind the day," Ide told the Oakville Beaver, before flying Gabrielle Ide Cinanni out for the conference. "If Gabrielle's death can create a dialogue between the medical specialists and save another child's life, then at least her death won't have been in vain and another family will have their child still with them, alive." One in four children with a heart problem -- most often, congenital heart disease -- suffers a stroke, according to Dr. Gabrielle deVeber. She is a pediatric neurologist and professor of pediatrics at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), senior scientist at the SickKids Research Institute, and was Gabrielle's doctor. "I'm hoping this symposium will mean further support of the unique opportunity the funding from Gabrielle's Ride has initiated, namely collaborative research between cardiologists and stroke neurologists to prevent and treat stroke in children with congenital heart disease," said deVeber, who also was a Regular price for initial Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment *till March 31, 2014 50% OFF Special 905.337.7007 Ali Maleki & Libor Divilek, Registered Physiotherapists Physiotherapy for: Neck / Back Pain / Sciatica Knee Injuries / Shoulder Injuries & more 30 years of combined experience 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 7, Oakville, Ontario contact@dorvalphysio.ca · www.dorvalphysio.ca speaker at the symposium. To date, Gabrielle's Ride has raised more than $129,000 towards a pediatric cardioembolic fellowship at SickKids, developing a state-of-theart research lab at the hospital and publishing the first international guidelines in treating children like Gabrielle -- in addition to helping make the symposium happen. "I hope for continued work in order to build on the learning we gain from our first symposium," said Ide, of what she anticipates the World Stroke Congress will lead to. "I hope for research, for questions to be answered and for children, like Gabrielle, to be better understood so they can all have bright and beautiful futures despite their disease." The third annual Gabrielle's Ride is set for Sunday, July 20 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, 3070 Neyagawa Blvd. Registration is open at www.gabriellesride. com. Ide says there is no way she could adequately describe how it feels to have so much good being done in Gabrielle's name. "I feel an incredible sense of pride knowing her life has created such a positive outlet that brings families together while making history for children living with congenital heart disease and pediatric stroke," she said. "Gabrielle was a blessing when she was alive and she is still blessing us. I feel grateful knowing that she is still with us, in some way. It helps me to keep breathing despite her death." Oakville Cycle & Sports WE'LL PAY THE TAX ON ALL IN STOCK INVENTORY 2013 BIKES Tune Up Special Reg. $49.99 Sale $29.99 SAVE $ already on sale PLUS Save the Tax WE CARRY: Specialized, Norco, Rocky Mountain, Miele, Chariot Carriers 2000 Come in and see the new 2014 Norco Bigfoot designed to take riders into wild places not normally accessible to bicycles. Fat tires help the bike float through sand, snow, mud and other variable terrain. 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville 905.844.4394 www.oakvillecycle.com · MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 10-6PM · THURSDAY- FRIDAY 10-8PM · SATURDAY 10-5PM · SUNDAY 12-4PM ·