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FOURTH LINE A U TO F o r A ll Y o u r C a r's N e e d s CAA Approved Shop Tune ups Brakes Cooling System In Business in Oakville Since 1979 Gov't. Safety Checks; Exhaust Systems 559 Speers Road • 842-3001 ( a c r o s s f r o m D a r ig o ld ) Focus OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL The Oakville Beaver r Q FOR COMPLETE V HOME DELIVERY f O 3 TIMES A WEEK CALL: 845-9742 Please enjoy the Oakville Beaver 'Focus.9 Tb subscribe to the Oakville Beaver c a ll845-9742, Big and Little Sisters speak from the heart By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR They met nine years ago, and today, Miria'Cook and Cora are insep­ arable. "Friends for life," says Cora, a Grade 12 student eager to study interi­ or design at Sheridan College next fall. (Her last name cannot be published.) They were matched as Big and Little Sisters one month before Cora's ninth birthday. Now that she's recently turned 18, the 'match is officially over' - however it's not the end of their relationship developed through the Oakville Big Sister Association. "We're officially no longer matched, but the commitment does not stop," says Cook. "How can you leave someone you love." Cook, who was matched with Cora shortly after moving to Oakville from Toronto, refers to her as "my kid." "I can't leave my kid." The Big and Little Sister pair spoke at the fourth annual Oakville United Way Leadership Breakfast held at the Galaxy Club on Friday. Asked to speak on behalf of one of 36 agencies funded by the Oakville United Way, Cook and Cora stole the show and received a standing ovation from the more than 200 community leaders in attendance, among them corporate heads, entrepreneurs, man­ agers, principals, politicians and labour leaders. Cook admits to looking for a volun- Photo courtesy of the Oakville United Way Miria Cook and Cora were pho­ tographed nine years ago shortly after they met. teer opportunity shortly after moving to Oakville, and spotted a notice that the Big Sisters were looking for volun­ teers to act as mentors to Little Sisters. "I took a leap of faith. I walked in cold," recalls Cook, founder and presi­ dent of Triumph Management Resources, a consulting firm dedicated to providing visionary strategic plan­ ning, empowerment training and development solutions. Since meeting Cora, she hasn't regretted taking this leap. "I volunteered for two reasons," she continued. "I've never felt a sense of commu­ nity, not in school, and not in the cor­ porate world. I wanted to get involved. When I came to Oakville, I knew only one couple. "Now nine years later, I wouldn't change a moment." "Cora has brought me enormous joy. Throughout our nine years we have experienced joys and sorrows, losses and gains. Cora and I have both lost dear ones." Cook explained that a Big and Little Sister relationship can take up to two years to gel, "and 18 months after we first met, Cora turned to me and said 'I really like you. I like it when we go grocery shopping and you buy eggplant. What's eggplant?" ' When Cora's grandfather died, she turned to her Big Sister for emotional support. "'Miria, I really need to see you,' was the message she left on my answering machine." Six years ago, Cook said she has suffered financial and personal losses, "so three years into my match I told Cora 'I don't know if I can do this any longer,' and Cora, who was only 12 at the time, said she would stick with me." The relationship has taught Cook how to bring "spirit into business" and when it comes to supporting the com­ munity through the United Way, "you don't just bring your chequebooks but you bring your heart. "You speak with your pocketbooks and with your heart." Cook told the audience she regards Photo by Riziero Vertolli Miria Cook and Cora spoke of their nine-year Big and Little Sister rela­ tionship at Friday's fourth annual Oakville United Way Leaders Breakfast. Christopher Reeve as her mentor, who said, when speaking recently at Copp's Coliseum in Hamilton, said "united we can do anything." Afterwards, she said "if he can raise $8 million in the four years since his accident, from a wheelchair and dependent on a vent to breathe, think of what we can do." She thanked the United Way for its support of Big Sisters, which she describes as a mentoring program to girls needing emotional and moral support. 'There's a lot of kids feeling alien­ ated out there, and I feel fortunate to have been able to touch one life." Cora credits her Big Sister for instilling within her a sense of confi­ dence and self-reliance, and "showing me how to see opportunity. "When I met Miria I was an eight- year-old kid who felt abandoned and I didn't trust anybody. I tested Miria, and it only made our relationship stronger. "Miria, you are my friend for life. You've been in inspiration to me. You've brought happiness to one girl's face, and I know you will bring happi­ ness to many others." Cora concluded her remarks by announcing "I've decided to be a Big Sister." WishMakers organize family hikes and barbecue to grant four last wishes By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR The WishMakers would like to make last dreams come true for four terminally ill children. They are a 'small group of volunteers organiz­ ing a family hiking and barbecue day to hopefully raise enough funds to make these four wishes come true through Make-A-Wish Foundation. The seven volunteers represent the Golden Horseshoe - Toronto, Oakville, Milton, Hamilton and Grimsby, and come from all walks of life. They are Guy and Theresa Sansome, an Oakville based computer software program direc­ tor and children's author (respectively); Caroline Oliver, Oakville based governance consultant; Robert Goderre, restaurant proprietor in Milton - owner of the Harrop Restaurant, Michelle Singh, Toronto marketing executive, Sheila Bourque, Hamilton real estate agent, and Bruce Manion of Grimsby, a senior hike leader with the Bruce Trail Association. The WishMakers will be organizing three hikes starting at the Niagara Glen Conservation Area on June 6th. About 200 hikers are expected to participate in the hikes beginning at 9 a.m. The two short hikes will each be about 6 to 7 kilometres long and take 60 to 90 minutes to com­ plete. One will take hikers into the Niagara Glen ALL You T K J 6 WILL D I G I T A L PHONE S STARTING AT *99 ^Com bine this with our new Rate Plan © t NATIONAL CELLULARt Personal Communications Centres Erin Mills Town Centre, Mississauga (905) 820-9200 422 Speers Rd. Oakville, (905) 338-9200 Oakville Place, Oakville (905)815-9200 •-w o rk <4f C i f j €***fct*u«* toffc v ■ tfcmrv* WOW*** It * Month and Receive • Unlim ited * WeekendfCalling yJ eP' £ jip O Minutes Included *Unlimited Weekend Long Distance Calling i* U * T fc **» M &r. W 1 * * * * * ft.* * * » Do- rvifm* J Item 'M B * * ' ' i i ■***'> « « » • . u« l Sguare One, M isr-------- (905) Mississauga 276-9200 Woodbine Centre, Etobicoke, (416) 679-9200 3105 Unity Dr, Unit #29 Mississauga (905)828-92)0 1490 Dundas St.E Mississauga (905) 848-2555 to the whirlpool, and back to the park along the Niagara Parkway. The-other short hike, a flat easy walk, goes from Niagara Glen to the Floral Clock and through the Botanical Gardens back to the park. The long 10-kilometre hike from the park to the Brock Monument, down into the historic Village of Queenston, past the Laura Secord Homestead, up a Bruce Trail side trail to the Floral Clock and through the Botanical Gardens back to the Niagara Glen Conservation Area. The hikes will be followed by a free barbecue, silent auction, raffle draws, and entertainment. All of the food and staff for the barbecue will be donated by the Harrop Restaurant in Milton, a major sponsor. Last year's hike, with 22 hikers, raised about $1,100, said Theresa Sansome recently. It was enough to send four-year-old Matthew, a leukemia sufferer, to Disneyworld, Florida. This year, for the second annual WishMakers Hike, the Harrop Restaurant has already pledged $ 2,000. Minimum sponsorship per hiker will be $50. The idea of organizing a hike to raise funds originated with Sansome, who also came up with the name WishMakers. The group has decided to make it an annual event, with an emphasis on par­ ticipation, fundraising and corporate donations. (See 'Make-A-Wish . . . ' page B2) Meray Motors & Collision Limited QEW & Dorval Drive, Oakville 845-6623 ercedes-Benz www.m eraym otors.m ercedes-benz.ca THE CLASSIC CUSTOM ER i? Mark BortolotH International Heart Institute Marketing Director Local physicians, hospitals, employers and insurers depend on the International Heart Institute to assess cardiac risk and to deliver comprehensive cardiac prevention/rehabilitation services. I depend on Meray Motors Ltd. to maintain my Mercedes-Benz C230 in perfect driving condition. http://www.meraymotors.mercedes-benz.ca