www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 1, 2015 | 12 Sisters follow in grandfather's footsteps during war by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Two sisters are preparing to resume an epic bike ride across Europe in honour of their late Oakville grandfather who drove a supply truck across much of the same ground during the Second World War. Vanessa Skupsky, 30, and Natasha Skupsky, 36, both from Toronto, will join about 90 other riders as they cycle from Vimy Ridge in France to the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands during the 2015 Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride. The 550-kilometre journey, which runs June 12-20, is intended to give participants the opportunity to honour the fallen and help the living by raising funds for Wounded Warriors Canada. The non-profit organization supports ill and injured members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families with a program focus on mental health, particularly Post-Traumatic Sisters Vanessa and Natasha Skupsky are cycling in France during the 2015 Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride in memory of their grandfather, the late William E. Holbrook of Oakville. | submitted photo Today's School for Tomorrow's World www.GlenburnieSchool.com Glenburnie School OPEN HOUSE Wednesdays 9am Preschool - Grade 8 2035 Upper Middle Rd. East at Ford Drive,Oakville (905) 338-6236 Stress Disorder (PTSD). This will be the second year the sisters have participated in the ride. Last year, the pair cycled the 750 km from Juno Beach to Vimy Ridge in a trek the pair described as deeply emotional. Just like last year, the reason the sisters are embarking on such a long journey has a name: William E. Holbrook, their grandfather, who lived in Oakville. He died in 2013. "The main reason we went was because we had lost my grandfather. He was a supply truck driver who had been at Juno Beach during the Second World War," said Vanessa. "We wanted to be respectful and pay our tributes to him as a World War II vet." Holbrook was 22 years old when he signed up to join the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps during the Second World War. His job required him to drive trucks loaded with vital supplies of food and fuel to Canadians fighting at the front lines in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. The long-time Oakville resident's job was far from safe. In a previous interview with the Oakville Beaver, Holbrook recounted how he had to hide under his truck at one point during an enemy air raid on his convoy in France. Vanessa and Natasha will honour their grandfather's memory by riding from Vimy Ridge to Flanders Fields. The journey will then take them past the First World War battlefields of Passchendaele and Ypres. Other stops, including the Scheldt estuary in Belgium/Netherlands and Bergen in the Netherlands, will focus on Canada's participation during the Second World War. The bike ride will take place as Europe marks the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and the see Tribute on p.15 Burlington's Best Florist 2015 Diamond Award · Golf Camps · CliniCs for Kids · Girls' Club · parent Child Classes · Junior leaGue · sChool field trip Awesome Fun! Ages 3 - 13 Years Old! Learn More Today david@davidfritzgolf.com Don't Forget MoM! Mother's Day May 10th Free parking at our John st. entrance 24 hours: 905-639-7001 ~ www.BrantFlorist.com 647-289-1964 461 Brant street, Burlington All programs are held at the Tee Zone Driving Range in Oakville www.teezonegolf.com · 4105 Bronte Rd.