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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 20, 2002 - C3 Dream-a-Thon on Saturday for Dreams Take Flight By Mary Collett SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER John Picone and Vinnie Di Rollo are gearing up for the third annual Oakville Field Hockey Club (OFHC) Dream-aThon. to be held this year at Queen Elizabeth Park School, 2301 Yolanda Drive, this Saturday Feb. 23. Each year, the Dream-a-Thon raises funds for Air Canada's Dreams Take Right, a charity allowing hundreds of terminally ill, mentally and physically disabled, and underprivileged children to realize the otherwise impossible dream of spending a day in Florida's Disney World. Air Canada supplies the aircraft, while staff pilots and flight attendants volunteer their time for this very special event, usually held in May. Last year, the OFHC raised $52,000, allowing 20 Oakville youngsters to experience the magic of a whirlwind visit to every kid's dream destination. The marathon field hockey match will run from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., with a var ied program of events occurring simulta neously. Picone, a teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, and self described founder and general caretaker of the Oakville Field Hockey Club, explained that the change of venue was occasioned by the need for expanded facilities in order to accommodate the field hockey match and entertainment sector without interruption. The larger gym and separate entertainment area allows more room for spectators. "There will be 12 hours of non-stop field hockey games, broken only by a cake-cutting ceremony with Mayor Ann Mulvale." said Picone. In addition to mixed teams compet ing from St. Thomas Aquinas, E.C. Drury and White Oaks high schools, a celebrity match between Oakville Firefighters and Halton Police is tenta tively scheduled for 1 p.m. Councillor Kevin Flynn will also be participating. Members of the Canadian National Indoor Field Hockey Team will join in a high-calibre exhibition match. Magician Aaron Paterson will once again perform, and juggler John Mark Deneau will be enlisting audience partic ipation during his interactive program. Professional staff from Bucci's Hair Salon will be on hand to provide 'butter fly hair braiding,' and food and refresh ments will be available throughout the day. Picone and Di Rollo have set an ambitious fundraising goal of SI04.000 for this year. "Every year, it gets bigger and bet ter," says Di Rollo, "and each year we've managed to double the amount raised in the previous year." More dollars raised in the local com munity. translates into more spots on the trip reserved for eligible Oakville chil dren. a major incentive for the hard working Dream-a-Thon Committee. "I do it for the kids," explains Di Rollo. "If I can put smiles on those kids faces, then I've done my job. The over whelming love you get from them is incredible." She adds, "Our children are our future: their vision of innocence Brent Foster · Oakville Beaver Nutrition Expedition: learn about healthy eating Feeling overwhelmed by the number of food choices on the supermarket shelves? Wondering if the food choices you are making are the healthiest for your family? Then join the Nutrition Expedition for the New Millennium - a revised two-part supermarket tour offered by the Halton Region Health Department, beginning in late February. Led by a registered dietitian, the two-part evening program will include a 90minute workshop session, followed by a 90-minute supermarket tour the fol lowing week. In Part One o f the Nutrition Expedition, participants leam about healthy eating and nutrition to prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. In Part Two of the program, partici pants will tour the supermarket and leam how to shop for foods that main tain good health. The Nutrition Expedition will be offered from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Registration for each class is limited to 15 participants. Part One, Monday Feb. 25. Oakville Central Library. 120 Navy St. Part Two. Monday March 4, Loblaws North. 2431 Trafalgar Rd. N. For more information or to register for the Nutrition Expedition, call the Halton Region Health Department, Heart Health and Cancer Prevention Program at 905-825-6060 ext. 7887. TTY 905-827-9833. For more information, visit www.region.halton.on.ca/health. Vinnie Di Rollo and Jo h n Picone, D ream -A -Thon organizers, pose with o th e r volunteers a n d som e of the 20 O akville children who enjoyed a trip of a lifetim e to Disney W orld in F lorida with D ream s Take Flight last May. enables us all to see life more clearly." Picone. who has been unceasingly amazed and gratified by the response from Oakville residents, finds that it con tinually reinforces his faith in human nature. "Being involved in this project reminds me that people are really good at heart," Picone says. "I've always been overwhelmed by people's reaction and the depth of their generosity. The out pouring of offers of volunteer assistance and contributions just washes over me." Di Rollo's fundraising efforts were initially motivated by her eight-year-old son Christian, who suffers from a rare neurological disorder that has rendered him unable to walk, talk, see, or even smile. Though Christian requires a bat tery of medications to reduce his risk of seizure, an imposing variety of medical Juggler John Mark Deneau Magician Aaron Paterson machinery to sustain him, and roundthe-clock nursing care to minister to his the wildly popular butterflies for this Invidiata Homes, PK Enterprises. Mixed needs, she knows instinctively that there year's drive, currently available at Grill Catering, CIBC, Primeline is a reason for his time shared with her Vinnie's Cafe. 2416 Lakeshore Rd. W. in Connections, Romeo's Pizza, Bucci Hair on earth. Bronte, and the Hopedale Mall branch of Salon. Balloon Express. Vinnie's Cafe. "He still inspires me every day," mar the CIBC. The Main Event, and Petit Gateau vels Di Rollo. Since the Dream-a-Thon and the Bakery, who are providing the cake and This "wondrous source of love, joy. Christian's Butterfly Project would be 200 cookies. But more sponsors and and inspiration" has caused the creation insufficient to meet the fundraising tar donated items for the silent auction are of yet another fund-raising project, get. Picone and Di Rollo are also organ needed to ensure that this year's event Christian's Butterflies. izing a dinner dance, complete with makes a dream come true for even more With the launch of the program last silent auction and live entertainment, to local kids. year, Di Rollo sold 10,000 of the bright be held at the Burlington Convention Admission to the Dream-a-Thon is ly-coloured delicate decorations, aided Centre on April 17. Tickets are $80 per $5 for adults, and S3 for children. by the participation of local schools and person, with a tax receipt issued for a For more information, or to become a the Canadian Imperial Bank of portion of that amount. sponsor or donor, contact John Picone at Commerce (CIBC). In her typically opti The Dream-a-Thon committee is 905-825-8498: or send him an e-mail at mistic fashion, she has ordered 25.000 of grateful for corporate sponsorship from ofhc@cogeco.ca. The taste of Italy has arrived in Oakville. 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