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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 3, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER President Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager Run for the Cure Could this be the year that the Halton site of the annual CIBC Run For The Cure -- in support of breast cancer research, education, diagnosis and treatment -- finally surpasses a single-day fundraising total of $1 million? The last two Burlington-based events that also hosts residents from Oakville and Hamilton have come so close to the milestone. The 2006 event raised $922,000 and last year's collected $983,000. In addition to the potential for a local fundraising record, the coast-tocoast charitable event will see 55 communities participating and an estimated $27 million raised for the cause. That money is desperately needed to keep up the fight against this terrible disease. According to the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation, an estimated 22,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. An estimated 170 men will also be diagnosed with the disease. Also this year, an estimated 5,300 women and 50 men will die from breast cancer in Canada. The annual Run for the Cure is far more than just another weekend fundraiser. It is a special time to remember those who have lost brave battles with breast cancer, a time to rejoice and support survivors of the disease, and an opportunity to realize that no one who faces the terrible news that they have breast cancer is alone. If you have not yet joined as a participant in Sunday's Central Park run (or walk) of a five-kilometre route -- a one-kilometre option is also available for those with young children < you can register online at www.cbcf.org or visit any branch of the CIBC or any Running Room store. Joining costs $40, although the fee is waived for participants who raise $150 or more in donations. Pre-registration also takes place at Running Room stores in Burlington, Hamilton and Oakville today (Friday) from 11 a. m.-7 p.m. and tomorrow (Saturday) at Central Arena, 519 Drury Lane, Burlington from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Never know what may happen when you vote I wonder if Michael Willems (Sometimes there isn't a party of choice, Oakville Beaver, Oct. 1) is a Rolling Stones fan. We've all experienced it, in both childhood and adulthood, because "you can't always get what you want!" He complains about high taxes on gas and heating of "both" his homes, and that "we already pay among the highest taxes in the developed world," but maybe he should recognize that he is living in a country that is consistently voted in the top five to live, by the United Nations. However, my friend just visited the Czech Republic, and he assures me we could live like kings there. Alas, they are only ranked No. 32. I feel for you, Michael, I really do. I like Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on protecting our arctic sovereignty, but I would never vote for a someone who honestly thinks stricter punishment reduces crime - let alone, photo opting a business handshake to your son instead of a fatherly hug on his first day back to school. Wouldn't want to ruffle up that sweater. So while you sit in one of your two homes, also realize that there are many people around the world who are dying for a chance to have the right to vote. Just to have a say. Let's take a conflict our troops are fighting in for example, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, too, if Harper had his way. You may never agree 100 per cent on a political party's platform, but should you simply choose not to vote altogether, you are allowing yourself to be ruled by a small minority of people. Then what? If it's the wrong person, it'll be too late. On Oct. 14, give it a shot, Michael. Because "if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need!" VON JEPPESEN Oakville needs more bike racks While efforts like the recent Car Free Day are great to encourage alternative transportation, without decent facilities for bicycles it is difficult to ditch the car. I am a frequent bike rider and enjoy riding my bike to downtown Oakville where I can stop for a coffee, shopping, etc. However the lack of bicycle racks in the downtown area makes it difficult to use my bike this way. I am forced to lock my bike to parking meters, which is not an ideal solution as I cannot lock my bike properly, plus it interferes with people trying to use the parking meters. We need to encourage the Town to put some bike racks through the downtown area. JOHN STRAUMANN The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council.The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206,Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com