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B2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday August 16, 2000 _ i t Children raise funds for Brainchild By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR " 'Toss a pebble in the water and marI vel at the ripples it creates . . " "My son tossed the pebble and we * are the ripples carrying on his fight," says Kathy Douthart of Brainchild, an organization which supports families affected by childhood brain tumour dis ease, and also funds research. In August 1997, she lost her son Christopher, 7, to brain tumour disease. Since then, she's became a `ripple,' cre ating awareness and raising funds. Douthart has organized two Rigatoni for Research Dinners at the Le Dome Banquet Hall. Last summer, she leaped out of an airplane, raising $11,000 from her parachute jump. Douthart's friends and supporters have become `ripples,' helping her raise money, and recently, her two remaining sons, Patrick and Ryan, and their friends have become `ripples.' At the end of July, Patrick Collaton and Luke Bingham, who were friends o f Christopher, organized a Talent Show and BBQ on their street, Ridgewood Court. "When the children were deciding to hold the talent show, it was decided that they would raise money for Rigatoni for Research," said Judy Collaton, mother o f one of the boys and a friend of Douthart. `T hey decided that they would have a BBQ with a `hot com bo' - hotdog, chips and drinks, or a `ham combo' hamburger, chips and drink, for $3.75 each. They asked each of the parents to supply something for the BBQ. `T heir talent show consisted of Irish Dance, dancing to Men in Black, lip syncing other songs with the help of the keyboard, poetry reading, walking on stilts and gymnastics." They raised $130. Patrick and Ryan Douthart also raised $32 from a bike rodeo, and another $68 from a garage sale. Since that first Rigatoni for Research Dinner two years ago, $106,000 has been raised. Carol Ann Bonnell and her three sons, Kalvin, Kristofer and Daryl, and a friend Lyn Proska, have painted 500 lady bugs, said Douthart, adding "Christopher just loved lady bugs." The lady bugs, painted on pebbles, will be given to guests at this fall's third annu al Rigatoni for Research Dinner. "At the first Rigatoni Dinner, Kathy handed out pebbles and challenged everyone to create a ripple," said Bonnell of her inspiration to paint the lady bugs. Bonnell's sister, Susan Devenyi, has written a children's book, Leonard the Lady Bug , in memory of Christopher's battle with brain tumour disease, of which 1,000 copies will be printed sold at the dinner. The book is being illus trated by Elizabeth Burke, a Sheridan College art student. Devenyi and Burke will be at the dinner. "It's a story that parallels Christopher's journey of determination, inspiration, helping others and believ ing in yourself," said Bonnell. "It's an inspirational story for all ages." The `ripple' also resulted in two golf tournaments organized by John Howlett and Mary Lombardi of Bunzl Canada (the first one raised $26,000), and by Jim Spence of Nabisco Ltd. (which raised $5,000 last year). Since last year's Rigatoni for Research Dinner, Rose Triviera held a family and friends Christmas party in December, and instead of gifts, asked for donations for Brainchild and raised $2,300; a gift wrapping booth at the LCBO at the Upper Oakville Shopping Centre raised $2,220; the Rolling for Research Bowlathon sponsored by Javelin Technologies in April raised $5,000; and Jack Astor's Restaurant in Mississauga raised $1,500 from its annual Bartenders Competition in May. The second Rigatoni Dinner raised $75,000, including the $26,000 pre sented by Bunzl Canada that evening. The first dinner raised $34,500. All of the money raised goes to the Arthur & Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, headed by neurosur geon Dr. James Rutka, at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Established about a year ago, the facility is Canada's first brain tumour research centre, funded with a $5 mil lion donation from Arthur and Sonia Labatt. Ongoing research funding for brain Photo by Dev Bingham, Special to the Beaver These children, including friends of Christopher Douthart, staged a Talent Show and BBQ and raised $130 for Brainchild. They are front row from left, Nicole Collaton, Darren Spearing, and Robert Collaton; and back row from left, Luke Bingham, Jared Spearing, Patrick Collaton, Heather McNenly, and Kristen Smith. Missing is Liam McNenly. tumour disease has been difficult to obtain, due to a lack of awareness, said Douthart. "Whenever we submit proposals to government agencies for funding, they always say excellent effort but the num bers of patients are too small to justify extra funding," said Dr. Rutka in a Toronto Star article (on June 3, 1999). "But muscular dystrophy, which gets huge funding, is much less preva lent than brain tumours." About 100 new cases are diagnosed annually. The third annual Rigatoni Dinner will be held on Sept. 27th at the Le Dome. For information about Brainchild, to or donate items to the silent auction, or find out about tickets, call Kathy Douthart at 847-2179. CO M M U N fTYU PD A TE Please forward announcements for Update to Wilma Blokhuis, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, OnL L6K 3S4; call 845-3824 Ext. 250, Fax 337-5567 or email to blokhuis@haltonsearch.com BEFORE NOON Monday to be included. Clowning Around fo r Big Sisters, Otello's Banquet Hall, Aug. 28th. Marche menu, complimentary refreshment, gift, and entertainment. Silent auction table and bou tique includes mini-bar fridge, Blue Jay tick ets and ladies Bulova watch. Tickets $65 $30 tax receipt. Call Big Sisters, 338-0238. Charity Golf Tournament fo r Hope Place Women' s Treatment Centre in Milton, Sept. 3rd at Lionhead Golf & Country Club, J 8525 Mississauga Rd., Brampton, tee off 1 p.m. Prizes for longest drive, team prize, putting contest, nearest to pin, two ball best man, and Mulligans. Cost: $250 each. To register, or sponsor a hole, call 905-875,, 3214. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16 Movies in the Gardens presents The Shining starting at dusk, at Gairloch Gallery, - 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E. Call 844-4402. Wellspring, cancer support centre, 2545 Sixth Line north of Glenashton, has Introduction to Journaling drop-in, 1 to 3 p.m., and drop-in peer support, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 257-1988. THURSDAY AUGUST 17 Summer Workshops for Children, Oakville Museum at Erchless, 8 Navy St. Paper Mache and Stickers, Aug. 17 and 18th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cost: $30, including materials and snack. Ages 7 and up. Call 338-4400. Wellspring, cancer support centre, 2545 Sixth Line north of Glenashton, has Introduction to Yoga drop-in, 1:30 to 3 p.m.; and drop-in peer support, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 257-1988. Oakville Strutters meets Thursday nights for 60-minute `stress busters' fitness walk. Also new route to Holyrood Park and back, (plus optional half-hour walk through Lakeside Park.) Libation afterwards. Meet at Oakville Central Library main front doors, Lakeshore and Navy, 7:15 p.m. Free. Call Patti Crichton, 338-2751. Discount Thursdays at The Gallery Shop in Gairloch Gardens, 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E., open 1 to 5 p.m., project of the Oakville Galleries Volunteer Association. Hand-craft ed items by well-known Canadian artists. Discounts on selected items, call 844-3460. Halton Central Chapter, BNI, meets every Thursday at the Dynasi Restaurant, 399 Dundas W,, 7 to 8:30 a.m., visitors wel come. Call John Seaga, 257-9463. Line Dancing, beginners welcome. Maple Grove United Church Hall, 346 Maplegrove, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Call: $5, pay as you go. Call Bonnie, 845-8189. FRIDAY AUGUST 18 Wellspring, cancer support centre, 2545 Sixth Line north of Glenashton, has Relaxation and Visualization drop-in, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 257-1988. Seniors Line Dancing for Beginners, every Friday in August, 10:30 a.m., Queen's Avenue Retirement Residence, 1056 Queen's Ave., in Activity Room. Wear leather-soled shoes only. Cost: $3 per person per class. Call 815-0862 to register. SATURDAY AUGUST 19 Oakville Horticultural Society Flower I Show, 1 to 4 p.m., Trafalgar Village, Cross Avenue across from Oakville GO Station. Grand Community Bazaar hosted by Halton Multicultural Council and Halton & Peel Central America Relief Committee, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at St. Michael's Church, 181 Sewell. Donations welcome, 842-2486. SUNDAYAUGUST 20 Christin Borkowski and Friends, featur ing Jenn Fletcher, Katie & Jenny Gulland, Roger Ley, Tom Oliver and William Oliver, directed by Linda Fletcher, at Walton United Church, Lakeshore and Bronte, 7 p.m., fundraiser for building fund. Tickets $10 each, $5 for children 12 and under. Call 8271643 or 845-5076. Tour o f The Main Street, Lakeshore from Navy to Allan, 2 p.m. for 1.5 hour, starting at society's office and archives, 110 King St. Tickets $10, special rates for chil dren. Reservations required, call 844-2695. Each walk includes tea and brochures. Standard First Aid · Retest, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $55. Also Basic Rescuer - Level C - CPR - Retest, Aug. 20th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or Aug. 24th, 6 to 10 p.m. Call Red Cross, 845-5241. Burl Oak Naval Veterans commemorate Dieppe Raid of Aug. 19, 1942, and VJ Day (Victory over Japan) Aug. 16, 1945, at Naval Ships Memorial Monument, Spencer Smith Park, Lakeshore and Brant, Burlington, 11 a.m. MONDAY AUGUST 21 Living with Cancer support group, 7:30 p.m.. Cancer Society office, 635 Fourth Line, Unit 51, 845-5231. Mothers and expectant mothers interest ed in breastfeeding baby welcome to attend La Leche League Canada meeting, 1064 Harcroft Court, 9:30 a.m. Call 339-2290, 849-7720, or 337-3501. Standard First Aid (including Basic Rescuer - Level C - CPR), Aug. 21st and 22nd, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Aug. 26th and 27th, 8:30 to 5 p.m. Cost: $55. Also, Emergency First Aid (including Basic Rescuer - Level C - CPR), Aug. 21st or Aug. 26th, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $66. And, Basic Rescuer · Level C - CPR, Aug. 21st or Aug. 26th, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call Red Cross, 845-5241. IF YOU WANT TO r n c i t r r r c c c n i u n o r.o tv n i u j u l l C j j / u l i __» U K u t i l II. 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