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Teens on board hospital Raitt BBQ for animal shelter expansion campaign By Stephanie Hounsell CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF They're not just the leaders of tomorrow. They're the leaders of today And that's the way it should be, said Ally Hernandez-Munoz, 14, part of a group of teens who recently stepped up to lend their support to Friends of Milton Hospital to gar- ner support for a hospital expansion. "It's vital to the community and we need to get everyone involved," Ally said. "I'm willing to put myself out there. This is really important." Friends of Milton Hospital's 'Help Milton Hospital Grow' campaign is dedicated to get- ting community support for a hospital expansion and showing that support to the provincial government - from which approval and funding are needed. Local teens have helped further the cause in several ways. Ally and 18-year-old Killian Hobbs, both part of the Milton Mayors Youth Advisory Council, were on hand to represent youth at the recent campaign launch. Ally said she thinks many people take the hospital for granted. "We need to promote this (hospital expansion) as necessary Its not a desire, it's critical." Hobbs said it's been encouraging to watch the community join together through the campaign. "People come together when there's a common goal, a common purpose." MDH is "key to the community," he said. If he had an audience with the provincial government, he knows the message he'd convey. "I'd tell them they need to put more focus on health care. Talk only gets you so far," he said. Since the govemment mandated Haltons growth through its Places to Grow Act, ifs only fair that it ensure provincial infrastruc- ture - such as hospitals - keeps pace, Hobbs said. He bas a particular fondness for MDH because its what first inspired him to become involved in the community. As a child, he watched his mother volun- teer with the hospital auxiliary, and quickly followed in her footsteps, lending his time and efforts to a variety of local initiatives including the Milton Mayors Youth Advisory Council, of which he's chair. Ward 3 councillor Cindy Lunau, who's on the Friends of Milton Hospital committee, said it's encouraging to see téens getting involved. "The ideas they have are powerful," she said. "They're the leaders of today. They show us what can be done." One of the ideas the youths have come up with is a Facebook page aimed at other young people. Residents signed up for the popular social networking site can simply enter 'Friends of Milton Hospital' in the Facebook search engine to get to the page. Jacob Box, 15, and Carter Ebbinge, 14, live in Acton, but that doesn't mean they're not also committed to helping the hospital, which serves their community as well. Recently, the stepbrothers woke at the crack of dawn to hand out postcards to GO train commuters urging the Province to grant approval for the hospital expansion. "We were very well received by com- muters," Carter said. "Young people should get involved with this." Carter bas even brought postcards to school for his friends to sign. The boys' mother and stepmother, Angie Ebbinge, works in administration at MDH and was also born there. She said she sees the needs at the hospital on a daily basis. "We do our best, but definitely the needs are growing," she said. She's pleased with what the boys are doing to help. "It makes me proud to see them out there and interacting with the community" she said. Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.con. ' s ' # g 9simplicity 3904 LAST CALLI' new save up to our regular prces on selected and up, per m or unit. Sale on selected SPRING & SUMMER in-stock merchandise. Look for the red sale tags. Fabrc, Draper, Upholster, Notlons, Beddlng, Reay àang orel 24 ta aStN.5482 (Cl -e S a s 31 Fi.ve t. 63-21 (Ope u. .- Family event tomorrow for Oakville humane society Halton MP Lisa Raitt is inviting families to join her for a summer barbecue tomor- row afternoon. The burgers will be flipping from noon to 4 p.m. at Willis Family Fruit Farm, 6063 0 z Fifth Line in Milton. Entertainment will be provided and> there will be a bouncy castle for the kids. Admission costs $10 per person or $25 O per family, with all proceeds going to the Oakville and District Humane Society . EUROPEAN FASHIONS OU é1re&O, Pdci&s OU 'J'