7 · Thursday, June 10, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Wheels in Motion at Appleby College By Carlie Oreskovich SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Oakville's Wheels in Motion at Appleby College this Sunday hopes to raise more than money. Participants will not only raise funds, but will have an opportunity to experience the challenges people with physical disabilities face every day. That experience will be offered through a wheelchair challenge. Participants will race against the clock through an obstacle course on the Appleby campus and test their dexterity, manoeuvring techniques and wheelchair operating skills. Teams can be registered for the event or those interested can sponsor the Oakville Yacht Squadron (OYS) team. The eighth annual Wheels in Motion, presented by Scotiabank, takes place all across Canada on Sunday, June 13. In Oakville, it will be held on the waterfront at Appleby College at 540 Lakeshore Rd. Half of the money raised goes to support programs that allow people with spinal cord injury to more fully participate in their communities. The remainder will be spent locally, in support of establishing the first Accessible Sailing Program on Sixteen-Mile Creek. Melissa Vassallo, vice chair of Wheels in Motion in Oakville and champion of the local sailing project, says sailing is very important to people with disabilities because it is very freeing. "You feel connected to nature. You feel that possibilities are endless," and she emphasizes that people with disabilities "need to feel that anything is possible." Melissa has made it her mission to give wheelchair users the opportunity to learn to sail. As a person who had her life dramatically altered by a car accident eight years ago, and went through an agonizing eight year recovery where she had more than 50 major operations, she knows how liberating it feels to be on your own, on a boat and she would like to share that thrill with other people with disabilities. A portion of the money raised will be used to purchase a sailboat and associated equipment to allow persons with a disability living in and visiting Oakville, to have access to boats at Sixteen-Mile Creek as well as set up an accessi- "You feel connected to nature. You feel that possibilities are endless." Melissa Vassallo, vice chair, Wheels in Motion Oakville PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA VASSALLO TAKING ON MOBILITY ISSUES: Rick Hansen and Oakville resident Melissa Vassallo. ble sailing program. The OYS will be helping to establish the accessible sailing program at its club, starting this year with the first offering of the program from July 18 to 29. If there is enough interest, the program may be broadened and an evening schedule could be added. Those attending the local Wheels in Motion event can also expect to see free boat rides available from CharterAbility following the main events. CharterAbility provides barrier-free, chartered boat rides, made possible after the local agency was able to purchase an accessible dock, PARDners Dock, from money raised in previous Wheels in Motion fundraisers. The accessible dock allows people with spinal cord injury and other disabilities to participate in boating activities on Oakville's harbours. The Wheels in Motion event will also offer activities for children, live entertainment and gift bags. Bernard Luttmer, 2004 Olympic and Silver Medalist and 2003 Pam Am Games participant is to be the main speaker. He will speak about his experiences as an athlete and how he came to support the accessibility program. OYS will be providing free accessible sailboat rides hosted by Ontario Sailing. This is a chance for those interested in trying accessible sailing to go out with Ontario Sailing instructors for 20-minute sailboat rides. Individuals can register for the accessible sailing program at the event or by contacting Melissa Vassallo at melissa@Vassallo.ca . Anyone interested in further Wheels in Motion information can visit www.wheelsinmotion.org. CHARITY MOTORCYCLE RIDE suppor ting BREAST CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES Join us for the ride on Breast Cancer Support Services Inc. SATURDAY JUNE 19th, 2010 , Held at: Philthy McNasty's Oakville - 379 Speers Road Take the QEW to Dorval Drive. Go south and we are at the corner of Dorval and Speers. 2 minutes from the QEW Registration Begins at 9:00 am Ride Depar ts at 10:15 am Ride Returns to Philthy's Oakville at 1:15 pm FOOD All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast Free Tim Hor tons Coffee Upon Arrival Delicious Lunch featuring Homemade Meatball Sandwiches & Fresh Salads For more information or to make a pledge please visit on-line at GREAT PRIZES T rip To Fallsview Casino 42" Plasma TV $500 in CASH! MUSIC Great Live Music! www.thehotride.ca