The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

11 · Wednesday, March 10, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Sanderson faced ALS with courage By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Thomas Ian Sanderson believed life was like a canoe trip -- you had to take what comes and make the most of it. With an infectious smile and sparkling eyes, he was a real outdoorsman who baked a mean apple pie, adored his family and lived life -- even when it meant courageously facing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) better known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- with grace and strength, much like those majestic rivers of canoe trip lore. Ian, 55, passed away early Thursday. "We are rejoicing with him for where he is, our hearts broken because he's gone," said his wife, Jody. He was surrounded by family, friends and neighbours through it all. He lived at home until midFebruary, when he was moved to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital -- Family Day, said Jody quietly -- where he remained surrounded by those who loved him and where he reveled in watching the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. A celebration of Ian's life will be held Saturday, March 13 at 2 p.m. at Evangel Pentecostal Church, 1450 Rebecca St. "Jody is okay ... exhausted, missing her husband and best friend ... overwhelmed by the outpouring of support," said family friend Catherine Mulvale. The same people who surrounded Ian, a former Town of Oakville building inspector and husband of former Oakville Today editor and Town councillor Jody Sanderson, at the time of his death were those who threw a blanket of support around the Sanderson family since Ian's diagnosis. "Thank you to all for your prayers, your help, your best wishes during this journey with us," said Jody. Last year, a birthday bash for Ian's 54th birthday, dubbed Celebration of Friendship and held on his March 26 birthday, saw the community rally to raise funds to renovate the Sandersons' home as they coped with the changing demands of Ian's illness. Ian's diagnosis with ALS came as a shock in December 2007. Accompanied by a prognosis of two OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTOS FAMILY ALBUM: At left, Ian Sanderson with his family at his 54th birthday, Celebration of Friendship. Clockwise from top left, grandson Joshua Jukes, daughter Kate Jukes, wife Jody, son-in-law Tom Jukes, Zachary Jukes, Ian and son Tom Sanderson. At right, Ian with his wife, Jody, last year. to five years, the news was a blow to the Oakville couple and their two children, Tom, 24 and Kate, 26, who has toddler twin boys, Joshua and Zachary, 3, and four-month-old Samuel. "ALS is an insidious, awful thing," said Jody, noting she was watching videos of a trip she and Ian made to Alaska last year and during which he had stood on a few occasions. He was palliative upon admittance at OTMH. Just as she misses her husband greatly, Jody acknowledges he was ravaged by ALS. "I wouldn't want him back for one of those days, one minute, he was good to go. He said he was not giving up, he was moving up. He was not scared, he is rejoicing, he is whole again," said Jody. See Love page 12 SMALLEST, MOST ADVANCED & DISCREET HEARING INSTRUMENT Hear Right Canada 2457 Mount Forest Drive (at Guelph Line) Burlington Hamilton & Stoney Creek Location opening in March 905-335-5252 hearrightcanada.ca Adult Hockey Schools A social, relaxed, fun, and safe recreational atmosphere Average & Lower Level Players Men & Women Register Now for Spring/Summer Programs ph: 1-(800)-905-0270 Oakville School - Sunday Nights Oakville League - Thursday Nights Burlington School - Friday Mornings + Many More Across GTA!