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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 25, 2013 | 16 Ruck climbs CN Tower steps in search of water by John Bkila Special to the Beaver How many steps do you take for a drink of water? For Jackie Ruck, and her colleagues at the Mississauga Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), they'll be taking 1,776 steps to help ensure communities in developing countries have easy access to clean water. After training for two months, the group will be climb the stairs of Toronto's CN Tower Saturday in a fundraiser put on by H2O 4 ALL. The Oakville non-profit organization helps bring clean water to 25,000 people in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Uganda. With a fundraising goal of $50,000 this year, H2O 4 ALL gets access to, purifies and distributes safe water; builds aquaculture systems; supplies water for agriculture; ensures adequate sanitation facilities, such as latrines; and educates local people in proper hygiene practices. Last year, Ruck raised $1,280 towards a clean water project in a maternity ward at Kawolo Hospital in Lugazi, Uganda. "The result of this project was astounding -- in the first three months, infection rates dropped from eight-six per cent to 2.7 per cent and in the following three months, they further dropped to zero per cent," said Odile Bartlett, H2O 4 ALL co-founder and chair. "Countless lives of mothers and newborns are being saved." Ruck, her husband Peter and two daughters, Natasha, 11, and Marissa, 10, became involved with the local organization three years ago. "Tim Muttoo, he's a co-founder along with Odile Bartlett and my husband knew him for years, they go to the same church, so as a family we all decided to help him out," said Ruck, who is a palliative team assistant at the Mississauga Halton CCAC. "I love the fact that I can help families and clients whose lives are dependent on a health-care professional. I have always had a desire to help people less fortunate than I am. I strongly believe we as individuals can make a difference." In addition to do the fundraising climb, Ruck will also be selling calla lilies for the second year Do you know how your Jackie Ruck is selling lilies to raise funds for H20 4 All towards clean water projects. She, along with her colleagues at the Mississauga Halton Community Care Access Centre, will also be joining the organization's charity CN Tower Climb Saturday, April 27. photo by Riziero Vertolli­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) grows? Know Your Source garden in a row in support of H2O 4 ALL for $20. Last Mother's Day, Ruck spent all weekend selling and delivering plants to friends, neighbours and co-workers to raise funds for the organization and plans do so again this year. "All her efforts and the way she galvanized her colleagues at the Mississauga Halton CCAC, it really shows you what a leader truly is," said Bobbi Greenberg, Mississauga Halton CCAC manager of media and PR. For Ruck, it all stems from her desire to make a difference in people's lives, both in her professional and volunteer worlds. "I wanted to give back to the communities because it (clean water) is something we have so much of that we don't always see that sometimes other people around the world don't," she said. To purchase a calla lily or help sponsor Ruck and her team, contact H2O 4 ALL at 905-3306644. For more information, visit www.h2o4all.org. Get on the path to health. Fun & 1 Yard active adult health & fitness programs. Soil Sacs www.ymcaofoakville.com $ from delivered starting + taxes & deposit. 99 SOILS · MULCHES · AGGREGATES · ROCKERY Cash & Carry Bags of most products available. LINGTON BUR GARDEN SUPPLIES LIMITED 905-336-7725 2273 Dundas St., Burlington, ON VISIT US AT burlingtongardens.ca