www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 11, 2010 · 26 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Every child deserves to live beyond the age of two and to have access to an education. "We grandmothers deserve hope. Our children, like all children, deserve a future." These are the collective words spoken on behalf of millions of heroic African grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren and other AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. There are some 13 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Halton grandmothers and friends, some with their grandchildren, will walk Saturday, June 12 in Oakville, in solidarity with these grandmothers to raise funds and awareness. Everyone is welcome to join the walk that will begin at 9 a.m. at St. Mildred'sLightbourn School. Students and educators from St. Mildred's are supporting the Grandmothers' Walk for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Education for All initiative. The walk starts at St. Mildred's, stopping for a break at Trafalgar Lodge and Chartwell Retirement Homes (Revera Homes, founding sponsors) and continuing back to St. Mildred's. Sending the children in their care to school is a top priority for the African grandmothers. Like Canadian grandmothers and parents, they know that education is the best long-term way to pull their families and their countries out of poverty, and to help their grandchildren experience the joy and opportunities that come with learning. Currently, some 38 million primary school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa are not in school due to family poverty, school fees and charges, and the devastation Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Grannies Stride to Turn the Tide Saturday The walk begins at St. Mildred'sLightbourn School at 9 a.m., stops for a break at Trafalgar Lodge and Chartwell retirement homes, and then concludes back at St. Mildred's. that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has had on the education system. Many more, especially girls, have no access to secondary school. The Halton Grandmothers will also be walking because half of these orphans die of HIV infection before their second birthday as they have no access to effective, affordable antiretroviral drugs. Canada legislated to provide this drug six years ago under Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) act, but currently only one order of generic affordable drugs has been sent to one country. Bill C-393, which amends CAMR if passed, will help Canada fulfill its promise to get quality, affordable treatment medicines to places like Africa. It's not too late to register for the walk. Join Ilana Landsburg-Lewis, executive director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Jeff Lozon, president and CEO of Revera Retirement Homes, the founding national sponsor of this event, Jane Wightman, principal of St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School and the Halton Grandmothers and friends on Saturday, June 12. Those interested in participating should be at at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, 1080 Linbrook Rd. at 9 a.m. Registration is $25 for an individual or a family. To register or donate, contact: lorrainegreen@bell.net. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER DRUMMING UP AWARENESS: Halton grandmothers will Stride to Turn the Tide Saturday, June 12 with the support of St. Mildred's-Lightbourn students. Here, from left, are Wendy Janisse, St. Mildred's Head of School Jane Wightman, St. Mildred's global studies prefect and student volunteer Natalie Dewan, 17, Lorraine Green, Kathy Mason and Marilyn Ortwein.The students, grandmas and anyone else who'd like to join will walk in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Education for All initiative.