www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 1, 2015 | 10 Community rallying to cheer Jayden's karting career by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver Living with a variety of health challenges has often left Jayden Elphage feel like an outsider. Except on a racetrack where the 12-year-old Oakville youth has become one of karting's bright lights. "When we hear people say our son is special, that usually means not up to par, but when they say that in karting, they mean he's extraordinary," his father John said. Jayden was born 27 weeks premature and weighed two pounds. He is multi-challenged, having been diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy and hearing loss. He wears a hearing aid in his left ear and has a cochlear implant in his right. But there has been an almost magical transformation in Jayden since taking a whirl on a rented Go-Kart at Goodwood Kartways in Stouffville three years ago. He not only competes on a level playing field, but has excelled. "As a result of his difficulties, his dream is just to be a regular kid, but hockey, soccer and baseball are all out of the question," John said. "But Jayden eats, breathes and sleeps cars." Still, karting is an expensive sport. So, to keep Jayden's dream alive -- and to allow him to continue doing what he loves, Your Health Wellness Centre is holding a five-kilometre charity run Sunday (Oct. 4) with all funds raised going toward Jayden's karting expenses. Jayden Elphage has a variety of health challenges, but it hasn't stopped him from shining when behind the wheel of a go-kart. | submitted photos "Our Oakville clinic is gearing up for our seventh anniversary and we wanted to do something special to celebrate. So, we decided to organize a run along the Avonhead Ridge Trail through the Clearview area," said Dr. Leann Shrum of the clinic. "A couple years ago, Jayden fell in love with go-kart racing and has excelled in it ever since. Due to his high medical/therapy costs, it's hard for his family to afford to move him to the next stage of competition...." Runners are asked to pledge or seek a minimum $30 in pledges to enter. There will also be a mini-run for children. Organizers hope local businesses will also help Jayden's racing career. When the youth started school, he was often isolated and teased because of his medical challenges, his father said. "I've stood, broken-hearted outside the fence watching him left out and just walking around kicking stones," John said. "So, teachers allowed him to play with a remote control car at recess...." Jayden's road to the go-kart track began when a young technician walked into his father's office at Toromont CAT (Caterpillar dealership) and told him about his cousin Austin Riley, who also has autism, but was a three-time national karting champion. John took Jayden, then 9, to the Goodwood Kartways the following weekend. "I watched him, not breathing, as he drove the only thing he had ever driven except for an F1 on the computer," John said. "He spun out more than a few times, but by the end of four laps he was staying on the track." There was an unbelievable look of "pure joy" on his face when he finished, John said. "It was a look I've never seen before," he said. "I knew right away he had finally found a place to fit in. In a kart, everybody is equal. He's just another regular kid." John and his wife, Rehana, knew they had to do whatever they could to keep their son in karting. They cashed in their RRSPs and depleted their other resources as they financed their son's dreams. see Jayden on p.25 Claude's vaCuum shop Includes Deluxe Air Package Sales · Service · Parts Free Estimates on Repairs Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday · 9am - 6pm Wednesday · 9am - 5pm Saturday · 9am - 4pm sale $39999 Supreme 100, 10 Years Warranty 128 Kerr St., Oakville, ON L6K 3A7 905.842.5658 | claude2@cogeco.net www.claudesvacuum.com As seen on