www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, August 12, 2010 · 14 It's a personal challenge A birthday wish Continued from page 7 she went through in the early stages," Goodale says. Burlington resident Kathy Ramsay-Ninos says she's always been an active person, so her lack of climbing experience doesn't worry her too much. The weekly group training climbs, complete with hiking boots and backpacks, has been helping build her stamina for the trip to Machu Picchu. She will be climbing for her sister-in-law, who suffers from MS. "This is very personal for me," she says. Working in the insurance industry, RamsayNinos says she is well aware of the high cost of much of the equipment required by people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. For people afflicted with MS, the costs can be overwhelming. As executive director of Halton's MS Society, Robin Halliwell was simply promoting the climb last year, but somehow ended up being part of the trip to Kilimanjaro. "It was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life," says Halliwell, who admits she's hardly an outdoorsy person, let alone a climber. The life-changing experience has led Halliwell to tackle Machu Picchu this year. But for her, funds raised by the climbs are the most important element of the campaign. On the MS Society's fundraising site (www.msclimb.ca), she writes, "I want to see this disease go away! I don't want to witness another 35-year-old woman in the prime of her life make the decision that she can no longer work because her disease has affected her mobility. "I don't want to watch as a 12-year-old boy is diagnosed with MS and has to deal with the symptoms presented to him. I do not want to guide someone through the process of selling their home and accessing affordable housing because this disease has robbed them of the ability to earn an income." LET US DESIGN YOUR LANDSCAPE STARTING AT $150.00 INCL. TAX FREE Bubbling Boulder with Landscape Installation (some conditions apply) NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER 31 DUNDAS ST. E. (HWY 5) WATERDOWN, ON L9H 7H8 LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Member of Landscape Ontario Showroom 905.689.1880 Est. 1993 www.oasisgardendesign.com TO HELP MISSING CHILDREN: Khushi Prakash celebrated her seventh birthday on July 9 and instead of gifts for herself, the budding humanitarian asked friends and family to instead bring a donation for the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) to her party. Thanks to her kind act, Khushi raised more than $350 in support of MCSC's ongoing investigations in the search for our country's missing children -- and earned a heartfelt thank-you from the organization. Why Waste Valuable Time? Less Time Cleaning Means More Time with Family! Let Merry Maids help you through the summer, so you can enjoy the great outdoors Call us for a FREE ESTIMATE at 905.847.2210 Email us at: mmaids@bellnet.ca Visit our digital web brochure at www.mm1078.isiedge.com Serving Oakville, Since 1993