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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-09-21, Page 15Family spends birthday taking a dip in all five Great Lakes Unique Lupus fundraiser has local connection Vicki Gough Postmedia Network When Lori Sheppard woke up on her 45th birthday Aug. 29, the Blenheim woman was in Brimley, Mich. It's there, in the tiny U.S. town where Sheppard, plus her 17 -year-old daughter Regan, and nieces Janelle Mur- ray, 25, and Josie Murray, 15, of St. Columban, embarked on a 2,000 kilometre joumey to take a dip in each of the Great Lakes in one day. Sheppard said she wanted to do something special to remember and honour two older brothers she's lost since her last birthday. Both siblings were diag- nosed with Lupus when they were young, Sheppard said. Ken Bruxer, of Hensall, was only 56 when he lost his battle to the disease on April 12, of this year. Younger brother, Mike, of Stratford, had just turned 51 when he passed away on Nov 12, 2015. Sheppard said visits to Grand Bend beach was something Mike enjoyed very much. Ken worked at the Sifto salt mines in Goderich and enjoyed boating, so wrap- ping up the road trip in Grand Bend seemed a natu- ral choice, she said. From Brimley, the women travelled back across Mackinac Island to reach Lake Michigan then got back on the road to head for their next stop at Port Stanley on Lake Erie. Sheppard told the Chatham Daily News Aug. 22 that she was still deciding whether the group would enter Lake Ontario somewhere in Hamil- ton or Burlington. While Sheppard was only a child when her brothers were first diagnosed, she recalled numerous trips to hospital. "They both had Lupus for most of their lives," Sheppard said. "They really endured a lot with that disease. "It's sometimes called an invisible disease because it's an internal autoimmune dis- ease that causes a lot of organ damage and sensitivi- ties to the sun," she said. "They really can't have a complete and what we would call a normal life because of the suffering and medication:" Sheppard said her broth- ers did their best to make the most out of their shortened lives and Lakes for Lupus celebrated the happier memories. The day -long journey began with a dip in Lake Superior at 6:30 a.m., after which they entered Lake Michigan after travelling back over Mackinac Island and then on to Port Stanley beach for a mid-afternoon Lake Erie swim. Sheppard said a beach visit along Lake Ontario and the drive to Lake Huron should have put the team in Grand Bend at about 10 p.m. "We have a good vehicle with navigation so we'll be nice and comfortable with lots of room for wet bathing suits and what -not," Sheppard said. It was learning about other people's experiences doing something similar in a day that prompted her to decide to spend her birthday swimming in all the Great Lakes with just her daughter. "I really enjoy being in the water and around the water, Sheppard said. But after talking to her father Frank Bruxer, of Dub- lin, the decision was made to turn the trip into a fundrais- ing opportunity, too. Sheppard said that's when her nieces Janelle and Josie were approached to join them and the decision was made to split any funds raised between Lupus Ontario and Huntington Society of Canada. "My brother Ken's daugh- ter-in-lawhas Huntington dis- ease ... and it's a fatal genetic disease," Sheppard said. "As we celebrate a day that marks years of life and good health, we will try to do a lit- tle good for those who strug- gle daily with health issues related to these two et's do our ' art, s lease recyc Submitted At Lake Michigan, where their "Lakes for Lupus" journey began, are Regan Sheppard (left), Josie Murray, Lori Sheppard and Janelle Murray. The Murray girls, from St. Columban, were part of the fundraiser which saw them swim in all five Great Lakes in the same day. diseases." This was Sheppard's first time swimming in lakes Superior and Michigan. She planned to draw from her experience of another shorter road trip. "I took a sunrise picture on Lake Erie and then I went up to Lake Huron and took a sunset picture on the same day," Sheppard said. "I always wanted to do this kind of road trip. "Doing it on my birthday will be fun, but also for my brothers because they don't get to have birthdays MAKE•02y1SH. Canada Because some wishes can't wait for someday. www.makeawish.ca 1-888.822.9474 The 3rd anniversary service of Brucefield Community United Church will be held on October 2nd at 10:30 am which will include a time of remembrance for members who have passed since the inception of BCUC. The guest speaker will be: Rev. Randy Banks Special music will be provided by: Kindred Spirit. Lunch will be provided. anymore." And how did Sheppard want to conclude this adventure? "There better be cake," she said. The group posted pictures of the experience during their trip on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ events/238029803257964/. To donate online, visit www.gofundme. com/2jb7vapg. Sheppard was hoping to raise $2,000 to match the approximate 2,000 kilometre journey. 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This course will take place at the Clinton Medical Clinic Wednesdays at 2:30 pm and begins October 5th. You will learn skills to help alleviate symptoms of stress and distress! To register or for more information contact Julie Talbot MSW, RSW, at 519-482-3000