When David went into hospital in July and got progressively worse, Scott came out to various cheek swab sessions and told us about his plans to do this. Hes been in train- ing for a year and a half, said Mike. He was helpful for us and we want to be helpful for him and we want everyone to be aware they can help fight this thing. Young also recognized Cannata, present- ing him with a special certificate and wel- coming him to Oakville. Cannata said he decided to begin the Run to Live because of the impact cancer has had on his own family. His own mother, he said, is a cancer sur- vivor and six years ago he lost his paternal grandfather to cancer. Cannata said he was struck by the sense of helplessness one feels as a loved one strug- gles through a deadly disease. Following these experiences, Cannata decided to fight back and on Friday, he saluted Smyth for doing the same. This is an important day because it shows you how one individual can impact many lives and make a difference. David impacted me, just like he impacted many others in this community and in the Trent community, said Cannata. This is a shout out to him. To find out more about the Run to Live or to donate in support of it, visit www.therun- tolive.com. Unfortunately Buster still cant bowl worth a lick. WAIT TIMES FOR KNEE REPLACEMENT REDUCED BY 245 DAYS. Source: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, 2011. Kevin Flynn, MPP www.kevinflynn.onmpp.ca | @kevinflynn2011 | 905-827-5141 15 W ednesday, A ugust 17, 2011 O A KVILLE BEAVER w w w .insideH A LTO N .com By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A Peterborough man, who is in the process of running across Canada to raise funds for cancer research, dedicated the Oakville leg of his run to the late David Smyth. Scott Cannata, 25, ran into Oakvilles Town Square Friday morning, where Smyths parents, Mike and Kim, and Oakville MP Terence Young greeted him and celebrated his arrival. David Smyth, an Oakville resident, spent the last few weeks of his life last summer try- ing to raise awareness of the need for more Canadians to get a cheek swab test to see if they could potentially save the life of someone in need of a bone marrow transplant. On Sept. 3, 2010, Smyth lost his life to a severe form of leukemia while waiting for such a transplant. He was only 20 years old. We have all been affected in some capac- ity by this disease and that is exactly why we are out here, said Cannata. Today is in honour of David Smyth. He was a Trent (University) student with me out in Peterborough. He was always an important part of the Trent athletic community, where I was a personal trainer, and I saw him every shift. He always had a smile on his face so this smile I have today is for him. Cannata began, what is being called the Run to Live on May 1, departing from St. Johns, Newfoundland. With his arrival in Oakville, he had run 3,400 kilometres of his 8,700-km journey, which will end when he reaches Port Renfrew, B.C., sometime in December or January. Cannata, who is running in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, said he averages around 42.2 kilometres per day and has so far raised an unofficial total of $20,000 for cancer research. Smyths mother Kim joined Cannata for a portion of his run into Oakville, running with him for about half a kilometre. I thought I would give every effort to at least run part of the way because Scott has dedicated this to David, so I gave it my best today, said Kim. Im glad I did it, Im glad that I tried and Im just very proud of what he has accom- plished. Mike Smyth said the support Cannata has given to his family goes back well before Fridays dedication. yRunner shouts out to the late David Sm th DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER AMONG FRIENDS: Kim and Mike Smyth, parents of the late David Smyth, with Scott Cannata as the marathon runner made his way through Oakville Friday morning.