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Wednesday, March 29, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B1 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus 845-3824 broke her leg. At this point her house became a problem so she moved to an apartment building that was wheelchair accessible. She continued to work as an administrative assistant at a pharmaceutical company, a job she held for 20 years. "I'm lucky I didn't get to the stage I am now when my kids were young," says Culver. Three years ago, she moved into the March of Dimes build ing on Robinson Street where there is attendant care 24 hours a day. "I am absolutely confined to a wheelchair and cannot move by myself at all," she says, empha sizing that one of her biggest challenges is wheelchair accessi bility. "It's been better in the last few years, but sometimes what peo ple think is accessible is not real- * JodkvilU' [ Waterfront lF e * t t v a i' YOUR "FINAL ANSWER" FOR FASHION!!! D on't m is s th e Ia s i w e e k o f o u r FRES H START S P R IN G S A LE to g e t all the n ece ssary pieces y o u need fo r S p rin g 2 0 0 0 1 O u r S p rin g line is arriv in g 1 daily an d it's C hic, Stylish, and B ursting w ith C o lo r! O u r F req u en t B uyer P ro g ra m is n o w in effec t, a s k fo r d etails. C o m e o n in and see us!! C o n s i g n m e n t ... Upscale Resale Ladies W ear 115 Trafalgar Rd. uaN >>t takeshiw 3 3 8 - 3 * 4 7 4 "Frequent Buyer Program" now ip effect, ask tor details! By Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567; Email: blokhuis@hattonsearch.com MS on a personal level First Oakville Super Cities Walk has special meaning for two local residents By Shelly Sanders Greer SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER W hen Betty Culver, an Oakville resident for 25 years, was diag nosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1974, she was a single mother with three kids. Over the years, the symptoms worsened, but she has embraced an active life with swimming, skiing and even scuba diving, showing that even a debilitating disease is not an excuse to slow down. Today, at 68, she js confined to a wheel chair but still manages to cook for herself and take part in vari ous endeavours, including the annual Super Cities WALK for Multiple Sclerosis. On Sunday April 16th, Culver will be alongside her family, in a wheelchair, doing either the 5K or 10K, depending on how well her grandchildren hold out. This year marks the first time the walk is being held in Oakville, and `if Honourary Chair Robert Decker has his Photo by Peter J. Thompson way, it will be an annual event Robert Decker proudly dis here. Decker has been the top plays his citation for being the fundraiser for a number of years, top fundraiser in the 1999 raising between $30,000 and Super Cities WALK for MS. $50,000 annually through cor porate donations. "My wife has the disease and a number of people I know have it," explains Decker of his desire to help with donations to MS. He has been in the walk for the past six years, with his family joining in for the past five years. "This walk in Oakville should be the first of many," says Decker. "It bothered me to go to Burlington and Mississauga to walk." MS is a disease that random ly attacks the central nervous system, affecting the control people have over their bodies. According to the MS Society of Canada, Canada has an unusual ly high incidence of MS, with those diagnosed usually between the ages of 20 and 40 prime family and career build ing years. Decker's wife has relapsing, remitting MS, which is on again, off again. "My wife has fatigue...it's a constant battle every day," Decker says. "She has lost her vision and balance but then it comes back." "It began with my eyes," Culver recalls of the first sign that something was wrong for her. "It was like looking through Swiss cheese-looking through holes. I went to a neu rologist and had a quick diagno sis and went for quite a few years without too many prob lems." The next symptom was with her leg which began to drag. This made it more difficult for Culver to take part in the many sports she enjoyed. But the real crisis occurred when she fell and iy." In an effort to stay as inde pendent as she can, Culver does all her own cooking, and has a van that she can drive herself. In addition to spending time with her beloved grandchildren, she has taken up painting which makes her "forget about every thing else." Like Decker, Culver used to walk in the Super Cities Walk for MS in Burlington for the past six or seven years, but is pleased to have it come home to Oakville. On Sunday April 16th, at 9 a.m,, the first Oakville \Super Cities Walk will be underway, with 5K and 10K routes. Both routes are wheelchair accessible. The shorter route winds through historic downtown and the longer route takes in the scenic lakeshore. Walkers will also be treated to a fabulous breakfast and lunch, courtesy of Loblaws. The goal for Oakville is to raise $50,000 and at this point more than 260 walkers have reg istered and are raising pledges. On a larger scale, the goal for Ontario is 35,000 walkers in 48 communities to raise over $3.5 million for the fight against MS. 2000 MS Photo by Peter C. McCusker Betty Culver, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1974, is planning to partici pate in the First Annual Oakv ille Super Cities WALK in her wheelchair along with her children and grandchildren. For more information or to register, call 1-888-822-8467 or (416) 967-7050, or register on line at www.supercitieswalk.com The First Annual Oakville Super Cities Walk for MS needs volunteers on April 15th and 16th, three to four hours, morn ings or afternoons, to help with registration, breakfast, check points, route patrol, finish line, barbecue lunch. If you can help, call Theresa, 847-7744, or Betty, 847-1966. Tff3 0 0 THE SLOTS ARE HERE Mohawk Racetrack Slots features 7 50 slot machines ranging from 2 5 ^ to $5 . W e've got progressive jackpots, great meals at the Market Place Eatery and the Terrace Lounge restaurant. W e're open from 1 1 am to 2. am, 7 days a week for full gaming fun. Simply follow the sound of excitement to Highway 4 0 1 and Guelph Line. For information call (905 ) 854 -4 0 5 3 .