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4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Iroquois Ridge students rally to battle multiple sclerosis By Joanna Phillips SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be a debilitating disease, but it has not destroyed the spirit at Iroquois Ridge Secondary School. It has, in fact, stirred students, especially Grade 12 students Sarah Graham and Amanda Volk, who organized a kickoff for the 2008 Super Cities WALK for MS on April 13. In 2006, Adam Mitchell and Alec Elliott pulled together the school's first-ever MS assembly. Last year, Elliott, whose mother was diagnosed with MS four years ago, arranged an Oakville-wide high school challenge, which inspired 295 students across Oakville to raise $11,375 for the fight to end MS, including $6,726 raised at Iroquois Ridge. Elliott has since graduated and passed the baton. His story has inspired Graham and Volk to keep up the momentum. "I know Alec's mom and she's a really sweet lady," said Volk. Elliott's little sister, Laura, is in Grade 9, and spoke lovingly of her mother at the third annual MS assembly, held on Monday in the Iroquois Ridge gymnasium. The gym was packed, and the listeners -- hundreds of them -- were intent. She spoke of a mother "who tries to do things for herself all the time," but can't. "They (MS sufferers) often look like they are feeling fine, but really they aren't fine." She also gave the audience a moment to imagine feeling unsteady. This is common to sufferers of MS, who find co-ordination and balance increasingly difficult. BEN RICETTO / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER NO LAUGHING MATTER: Craig Lauzon of the CBC'S Royal Canadian Air Farce tells Iroquois Ridge students of his personal experiences with MS (his aunt had the disease and his high school drama teacher was recently diagnosed). The event was held to help kickoff the Super Cities WALK for MS in Oakville this Sunday, April 13. "Close your eyes, pretend you're five ... spinning around, dizzy." "(They) know all too well what this feels like." Craig Lauzon, of the Royal Canadian Air Farce, one of Canada's longest-running comedy troupes, spoke to the students. His message wasn't a joke though, and his celebrity status took a backseat to the weight of what he wanted students to know. "(MS) slowly takes away who you are from the outside world," he said. Lauzon's aunt was diagnosed with MS when he was seven years old. "She struggled for 20 years before passing on." His high school drama teacher, who inspired him towards a career in acting, was diagnosed last year with MS. "You guys are called trailblazers," he said, referring to the team slogan on the gymnasium walls. "You have the opportunity to be trailblazers." In a video, other cast and crew members of the Royal Canadian Air Farce spoke about being touched by someone living with MS. Writer Kevin Wallis saw his best friend's sister succumb when she was just 16. Crystal Ward, audience coordinator for the show, sees her mother, who was diagnosed after five years of signs and symptoms, "always in pain." Sue Graham, who coordinates the parent program at Iroquois, has participated for the last three years and also knows Gail Elliott, Alec and Laura's mother. "It's an amazing day. You get contagious with the involvement," she said. In 2007, Iroquois was the third largest team in all of Canada to participate in the WALK for MS. Over 200 members fundraised and walked on the day of the event. The turnout this year is expected to be even greater. The Iroquois student who raises the most money for the event will win two VIP tickets to the Royal Canadian Air Farce New Year's Eve Special, its series-ending finale. Sponsors this year include the CBC and singer Anne Murray. The Super Cities Walk for MS in Oakville will be held Sunday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Central West Specialized Development Services at 53 Bond Street. TDL Networking Event Thursday April 17, 2008 HOLIDAY INN BRONTE 4-8pm TDL is always looking for professional, technical and designated individuals with a `Can Do' attitude to join our corporate departments of Finance, Marketing, Information Technology, Engineering Services, Human Resources and Operations. On Thursday April 17th from 4pm-8pm, we will be hosting a Networking Event at the Holiday Inn, located at 2525 Wyecroft Road (off Bronte) Oakville. We are inviting all interested candidates to discuss professional opportunities currently available at TDL's corporate head office in Oakville. Come learn about the variety of career paths TDL offers. For more information or to view current opportunities, please visit www.timhortons.com. © Tim Hortons, 2006