www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 13, 2007 - 3 Family on a mission to help World Vision By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A pair of Oakville children are trying to bring hope to the hopeless by holding a fundraiser for World Vision in their church parking lot Saturday. Early last year, Ryan Nirula, now seven years old, was sitting on his couch flicking through the channels when he came across a World Vision program and became deeply moved by what he saw. "There were so many poor kids dying of HIV and AIDS," he said. "They showed this one family where their parents were lost and the grandma had to take care of the kids. It made me really sad." Ryan, however, was not content to just feel sad for the children of Africa. At the tender age of six, he did more than most people will ever do in their lifetime and raised money to help. "I just asked people to sponsor me," said Ryan. Sending letters to family, friends, teachers and really anyone else he knew, Ryan's goal was to raise $1,000 for World Vision. He raised more than $1,400 and then, in celebration at a `hair razing' party, he shaved his head bald. This year the stakes are much higher with Ryan agreeing to once again shave his long locks, which have been allowed to grow unabated for the past six months, when the fundraiser reaches $3,000. "Even if it's in the middle of my hockey game, I'm just going to take off my helmet, grab a buzzer and... zip," said Ryan, running an imaginary electric razor through his long hair. If the fundraiser reaches its goal of $5,000, Ryan's mother Marlene, who is currently seven months pregnant, will have her long hair shaved into a mullet. DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER FAMILY VISION: Anjay, Marlene, Alison and Ryan are gearing up for their Saturday, June 16 fundraiser for World Vision. Marlene hopes her hair will grow back quickly. "I won't give birth with a mullet," she joked. The events of this year's fundraiser, held in the ClearView Church parking lot, are various. "On Saturday, June 16 me and my sister Alison are going to be doing a ball hockey tournament and there is going to be jumping castles and all this fun stuff," said Ryan. "There will be lots of prizes like hats, golf balls, a mountain bike and an iPod." Registration for the ball hockey tournament is priced at $20 per person with all money raised from this and from the sale of raffle tickets going to World Vision. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 6 p.m. with those who attend enjoying the added bonus of a barbecue and the musical styling of local band `The Basement Trolls.' Those more interested in classical music can attend a benefit concert being held at ClearView Church the night before on Friday, June 15, with performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. "It's free and people can donate whatever they want to donate. It will feature primarily jazz and classical music," said Ryan's father, Anjay. Again, all money raised will go towards World Vision. While the day of the fundraiser will be fun and lighthearted, the reason for the event is anything but. "The statistic is one child dies every three seconds from poverty and unnecessary causes," said Marlene. "If you think about that, if that was happening here, if that was happening in our schools and our daycares, we probably wouldn't be sitting around and just feeling sorry for them, we'd be doing something." Anjay says the money collected by World Vision will go towards community development in Africa and, specifically, will go towards providing medicine and support to children who are struggling with HIV and AIDS. "They need our help," said Ryan. "They need money and food, we have so much and they have very little." With most other children Ryan's age primarily focused on all things video-game oriented, Marlene is happy to see this charitable side of her son. "He's very passionate about the needs of those kids," she said. "He wanted to do something and why not encourage that." To register a team for the Saturday ball hockey tournament or to find out how to make a donation, call the Nirula family at 905-4031234. Warm weather tempting for thieves, say police Halton police are warning Oakville residents to be extra cautious during the warm weather season after an increase of thefts and break-ins. Police are cautioning residents to ensure their homes and vehicles are properly secured and crime proofed. The warning was issued in the wake of a jump in thefts and break-ins to local homes, and garages, since milder temperatures have taken hold. Culprits target open garage doors and steal items from the garage -- even gaining entry to the home through connecting doors from garages to residences as a hidden point of entry. Vehicles left unlocked in driveways and garages are also being targeted. Numerous arrests have been made relating to these crimes, but police continue to target these offenders in all neighbourhoods. Residents are being asked to do their part by making the community, specifically their residence, less attractive to thieves. Actions that can be taken include: · Closing and locking all doors, including the garage door when not at home. · Closing the garage door when not in direct sight of it. · Locking all vehicles in the driveway and the garage. · Ensuring lower-level windows are secured when the home is unoccupied. · Watching out for the neighbourhood as well by reporting suspicious activity to police. Anyone with information related to any crimes in Oakville is urged to contact the Oakville Criminal Investigations, Break and Enter Bureau at 905-825-4777 or 905-634-1831, ext. 2219 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). www.dealsonmealsauction.com The Greatest Local Dining Auction Event ever in on NOW! Bid for GREAT DEALS on your favourite restaurants VISIT www.dealsonmealsauction.com