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2- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Annual bathtub race cancelled By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF their world at appleby college, now starts Open House Saturday, October 20 10:00 a.m. ­ 2:00 p.m. Take a campus tour and see all that Appleby has to offer! we think students becoming vital, contributing leaders isn't something that just happens after graduation. Here, it happens every day. 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville 905-845-4681, ext. 252 enrol@appleby.on.ca www.appleby.on.ca . For the first time in 44 years, Lakeshore Road won't be a racetrack for bathtubs on wheels. The United Way of Oakville (UWO) Bathtub Race, which for 43 years kicked off the local fundraising campaign, has been cancelled. Injuries are the reason behind the "difficult decision" to put an end to the race, says UWO president Barbara Burton. "There was an incredible amount of liability involved, and there were a number of incidences last year where participants were hurt," said Burton. "One individual had a broken arm, and I don't want to belittle that, but we didn't want to see more serious injuries happening as a result of the race." Last year's bathtub race featured 12 local high schools vying to be the Fastest Tub in Town. Five students from each school sporting helmets and school gear were cheered on by other students, blowing horns and yelling through megaphones to support their school's tub. The race also featured a highly-coveted spirit award. Schools were notified none of this would be happening in 2007 back in June, and another letter was recently sent out as a reminder, Burton said. Many local schools have been participating in the race for more than 20 years, when it was first opened up for high school participation. "Some of the students really liked it, so obviously they're disappointed that it's been cancelled," said T.A. Blakelock principal Stuart Miller. "We have a nice bathtub, waiting to go." While disappointment is the first reaction among students, Miller says they do understand the United Way's decision. "Everyone can see the United Way's issues, that the bathtub is quite heavy and the students shove them around. You can see someone getting injured in that situation." The principal added his students had "a few scraped knees" in the past, but no serious injuries, though he knew of other schools that had trouble with injuries. As a result of past injuries, Burton says, "the schools have been very understanding" about their decision to make the UWO's 43rd bathtub race its last. "I think the disappointment is more with the students, because they had such fun doing it," she added. "We just realized it was time we had to be conscious of not only the safety of the participants, but the people in the audience." Oakville's United Way is planning with the Catholic and public school boards to put together "a plan" for high school students to keep them involved, Burton said. "They will be able to participate and support and build awareness around the United Way, but they'll be doing it from their school perspective." The United Way hopes to get that project off the ground this year, either in late October or early November. A breakfast celebration at Town Hall this morning is instead acting as the jump-start to the annual fundraising campaign. UWO provides funding to 31 local health and social service agencies with an emphasis on prevention and crisis intervention. This balance allows United Way to help maintain the ongoing health of Oakville, and to provide support to those in the greatest need. For more information, visit www.uwoakville.org. 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