B4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday June 28, 2000 M an walking across Canada to say thank-you for life-saving organ donation By Scott MacArthur SPECIAL TO T H E BEAVER Walking across Canada would be a daunting task for anyone, but for George Marcello, it's simply a way of saying thank you. Marcello, 44, a native of Toronto, made a stop in Oakville last Thursday during his walk coast-to-coast in support of organ and tissue donation, something that saved his life only five years ago. In 1992, at the age of 36, Marcello was diagnosed with ter minal liver disease and given five years at most to live. In December, 1994, he made the organ donation waiting list and nine months later, in August, 1995, with only days to live, he received a liver transplant that would give him renewed life. "I remember waking up after the surgery and feeling a new sense of life, that I'd truly been given a second chance," said Marcello, clearly still apprecia tive to this day. "Not a day goes by when I don't remind myself just how lucky I am." The walk, which began last Tuesday in Toronto, will see Marcello cover more than 200 Ontario cities between now and Dec. 1st He will then head west to Victoria, B.C., fly around the world to St. John's, Nfld., and walk back to Toronto. The entire trip will take 527 days and cover 12,000 kilometres Marcello's first walk was in the summer of 1997 when he went on a 12-day walk from He recalls a stop in Toronto to Ottawa. It Marmora, a religious was a way to give town northeast of back, despite being Peterborough, as the unprepared. He had point where he knew almost no money to his his walk was meant to name, and as the trip be. progressed, the blisters "People there were on his feet became very supportive and to almost intolerable. that point our walk had "We weren't play George been in virtual ing with a full deck of Marcello anonymity," he said. cards on that walk, to be for sure," he said. "But once "But when we got to Marmora, we were well into it we absolute the press showed up and gave us coverage and soon it seemed like ly had to finish." the whole town was behind us." Last summer, he successfully completed a 3,000-km walk across Ontario, and admits that while the rigors of his task take their toll, the encouragement he has received from various sup porters has helped greatly. "Sometimes it's tough to get motivated when you're walking such long distances," he said. "But the support of the people and my desire to see more people survive tragic illnesses drives me to keep going." eons SATURDAY! O N LY ALL 4 PIECES! 1 .............. .................. ......................................................... ".............................."""C^ INCLUDES DELIVERY! Comes fully assembled! $ Opening fo r a 32" TV w ith 3 shelve fiexibilty fo r electronic components. Available in oak & black finishes. INCLUDES DELIVERY The "Urban Country" Design Finished w ith a g o rg e o u s tw o -to n e p ickle d oak la m in a te and c in n a m o n w o o d g ra in p r in t o n to p . S uite inclu de s dresser, m irro r, q u e e n size h e a d b o a rd and o ne n ig h t ta b le . O p tio n a l 5 D ra w e r Chest $249 o r D o o r Chest $349 |||CR£D|b P£ Charming Dinette Includes a 42X 6 0 " all w o o d ta b le and 4 a rro w chairs. / ' O N L Y INCLUDES DELIVERY! INCLUDES DELIVERY · GuidePlus Gold interactive program guide. · Universal remote & S VHS input. w ith Ice Maker! · A d ju s ta b le sp ill p ro o f c a n tile v e r glass shelves · EZ-STOR d o o r bins f o r la rg e item s. · F actory in s ta lle d ICE M AG IC ice m aker. Hours On discontinued, one only, floor model, damaged and distressed products in our 0 M O N E Y D O W N · N O IN T E R E S T · N O T A X E S · N O M O N T H L Y P A Y M E N T S · N O F E E S Markdown Centres. <&> 1 i m msanao 01W E A S T i 1 A 1 * aI i unuwo. D U M A SS T . HI. Gordon MacKay off Jane St. South of Wilson Ave. J [4161 243-8300 5 u an m iK . £ V i N £ 0 . 6 1 1M IU SID IM J O tiA U E X Z XM L | _| I A N A Markham Rd. at McLevin 1500 Victoria Street East North of 401 South of 401 -W est of Thickson Q EW at Guelph Line. Toronto Direct Line 825-0760 201 Britannia Rd. South of 401 East of Hwy 10 Leon's N ew Era 28 7 2 Danforth Avenu 10875 Yonge St. N orth of Elgin M ills Road C a n a d a 's O nly F urniture [905] 335-1811 [905] 501-9505 (416) 699-7143 [905] 770-4424 [416] 291-3818 [905] 430-9050 S u persto res *0 A C. Total purchase including all applicable taxes and a processing fee of S45 (Eg. $1500 purchase with $45 PF eguals an APR of 3.0%) is due one year from date of purchase All items available while guantities last. Prices, terms and conditions may vary according to region Selection may vary from store to store Pick-up discounts not available on some items See store for delivery included areas. Not applicable to previous purchases and markdown items See store for other convenient payment options. Custom orders reguire 25% deposit