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Oomama takes `virtual strides' for grannies in Africa by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Thursday, January 28, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Wendy Merson can't imagine looking after her nine grandchildren on her own. "I don't think I would have the energy to do it," said the 35-year Oakville resident, admitting she has felt exhausted looking after just three of her grandchildren for just a few days. But for many grandmothers in Africa, that's their reality. They are caring for orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. The numbers are in the millions. Merson first learned of this scenario 13 years ago when Stephen Lewis, who was the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 to 2006, visited here. Stephen Lewis' compelling story Lewis' compelling story, which she heard again when he visited in 2007, motivated her to help the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, which raises funds in Canada in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's work with community organizations in Africa. It provides grandmothers, and the children in their care, with the necessities of life, including counselling, nutrition, shelter, school supplies and income-generation activities. So Merson joined Oakville's Oomama group. Over the past decade, Oomama, which is Zulu for "our mothers," has raised $550,000 in Oakville to help grandmothers in Africa care for the young. It has also been actively advocating on behalf of the grandmother caregivers in AIDS-ravaged Africa. The local group shows no signs of slowing down, with its latest fundraising campaign just begun -- the Halton-Peel Virtual Stride Walk kicked off Jan. 13 and continues through June 11. Merson, who co-chairs the initiative with Sandra Milakovic, said Oomama has again teamed up with Bronte Grandmothers for Africa to host the annual Stride campaign, now in its seventh year. Virtual Stride Walk However, an alternative to the traditional walking fundraiser, the Virtual Stride Walk encourages participants to register, buy pedometers or track the distance they walk using a smartphone app; keep a log of the distance they walk each day until June 11; and, collect pledges from their family and friends. see Oomama on p.10 Oomama's Wendy Merson, Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign Officer Yasmin Mussa, Bronte Grandmothers for Africa's Wendy Belcher, Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign Officer Asmita Persaud, and Oomama's Sandy Milakovic help kick off the Halton-Peel Virtual Stride Walk for the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) at The Kensington retirement residences on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Help the grandmothers as their team, between Jan. 13 and June 11, attempt to virtually walk 10,254 kilometres through sub-Saharan Africa, where SLF supports projects to assist grandmothers and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) NEW YEAR NEW SALE 490 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE KDESIGNCABINETRY.COM 905.339.2223 If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match. 30 = 60 rolls Royale Bathroom Tissue limit 4, after limit $19.99 7 97 save Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts BIG Pack!TM $ 344 lb 30 0 lb $7.58/kg Flyer prices effective from Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4, 2016 WON'T BE BEAT® program restricted to major supermarket competitors within these stores geographical trade area. Other conditions and restrictions apply, please see our distributed flyer or in store for details. We reserve the right to limit quantities. While quantities last. No rainchecks. We reserve the right to correct any unintentional error that may occur in copy or illustration. ®/TM Trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved, used with permission ©2016 Loblaws Inc. Michael's NoFrills Van Spall's NoFrills 125 Cross 1395 Abbeywood Avenue Drive OAkVille