Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-29, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Hensall boy starts cancer fundraiser for Christmas By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — He may be only eight years old, but that hasn't stopped Hensall's Travis McLeod from knowing Christmas is a time for giving. The Grade 3 Hensall Public School student has start- ed a fundraiser for children suffering from cancer and is seeking donations of either regular money or Canadian Tire money. Once collected, Travis and his family, mom Candice, dad Caleb and sisters Alexis and Kyla will shop for craft kits, books and toys to give to Childcan, the Childhood Cancer Research Association. So far Travis has had donations of $40 in Canadian Tire money with more coming in. Travis's efforts started last May when he started a drink stand and raised nearly $150. He decided to help kids with cancer because, his mom explains, the family has been affected by cancer in past, although not with children. Travis points out that Childcan doesn't receive any funding from the government and he wanted to help kids with cancer. "He wants them to have a happy Christmas even though they're sick and in the hospital," Candice says. Childcan's purpose is "to make the burden of child- hood cancer a little less painful for the families in order to make the treatment process easier." The organization helps meet emotional, financial, social and basic needs when a family faces cancer. One of its functions, Candice says, is providing park- ing passes to families during visits to hospitals. Two years ago, Candice said Childcan spent $60,000 on parking passes. It also holds support groups, offers financial support for bereavement counselling, hosts day trips and dinners. Childcan works with the London Health Sciences Centre/Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, oncolo- gy teams, satellite clinics and community agencies. When deciding what organization to donate to, Candice discovered Childcan online and the family toured a day unit in August to learn how they help families. "We're very proud of him," Caleb says of Travis, with Candice adding Travis has always thought of others. Travis is also very specific in his goal for the fundraiser — he wants to raise $275.60. Manufacturing Excellence Awards held Continued from front page Tony de Boer of Syfilco was awarded the Chairman's Award for Leadership. The HMA described de Boer as "a dedicated private sector leader for economic development in Huron County" and pointed out his volunteer time with the South Huron Chamber of Commerce and the HMA. In 1998, de Boer joined other manufacturers to form the Huron Manufacturing Group and the fol- lowing year worked to create a strategic plan with input from all of the manufacturers in the county. "Tony's contribution of one-on- one interviews ensured the success of the plan," a press release states. "This strategic plan won the Royal Bank Economic Development Program Award in 2000. Under Tony's leadership the Huron Manufacturing Association was incorporated in 2004." Andex Metal Products was anoth- er Exeter business to take home an award, winning the Corporate Citizenship Award, along with Barmy Tech of Walton and Wescast Industries of Wingham. That award was given to the three companies who made outstanding contribu- tions to the community and the environment. Winning the Youth Integration and Training Award were R&R Machine & Tool of Wingham, CapProducts of Vanastra and Volvo Construction Equipment of Goderich. Walker -Bolton said the Innovative Product award, taken home by Fibro Light and Miser Lighting of Goderich, was one of the most pop- ular for nominations. "That was probably the hardest decision for the awards committee to make. Unfortunately we couldn't recognize all the people that were nominated in that category." Volvo Construction took home the Huron County Manufacturer of the Year Award, presented by Warden Rob Morley. The company won the award for its redesigned Volvo Motor Grader product family. The development has improved fuel economy with an 11 -speed transmission, giving more control over motor grader opera- tion. The development also used innovative modular manufacturing. The concept, developed in Goderich, is being used on Volvo Construction Equipment world- wide. Walker -Bolton was pleased with the evening. "We were really happy with how the awards went. It's a good oppor- tunity for the Huron Manufacturing Association to take time to recog- nize our members and the accom- plishments they've made." Walker -Bolton said the purpose of the awards was to recognize the contributions Huron County manu- facturers make to the local econo- my and the community. She said the awards created a lot of excitement among the manufac- turers and the companies were pleased to participate. "In the work world it's so seldom we take the time to recognize when people are successful and are doing things right and I think that's some- thing important we need to do in this county. It's a competitive world out there and we need to recognize when we have these victories. Just staying in business itself can be something worth celebrating, but these companies are doing it and really thriving and doing something amazing." A committee consisting of HMA members and associate members voted on the awards. Walker - Bolton said the HMA plans to hold the awards in different parts of the county in future years because the HMA represents the entire county. There are 176 manufacturers in the county, all of which are consid- ered members of the HMA. About 40-50 of those manufacturers are "full" or "associate" members of the HMA. Innovative Manufacturing — Dashwood Industries took home an Innovative Manufacturing Award last week at the Huron Manufacturing Excellence Awards. From left are Carlos Contreras,Travis Hervoly,Allan Sydorko, Emery Huszka, Ryan Huynh, Brad Duguay and Chris Meier. Travis would like donations before Dec. 13 so he and his family will have time to buy Christmas items for the children. Donations will still be accepted after Dec. 13. For anyone interested in donating, Childcan will issue tax receipts for cash donations of $10 or more. Your full name, address, postal code and phone num- ber must be included for the receipt. Cheques or money orders can be made payable to Candice McLeod and mailed to P.O. Box 437, Hensall, Ont., NOM 1X0. Call Candice at 262-2781 for more informa- tion. Helping kids — Eight-year-old Travis McLeod of Hensall, back centre, is starting a fundraiser for Childcan, an organization that helps families cope when they have a child with cancer.With Travis are his mom Candice and dad Caleb and his sisters Kyla, left, and Alexis. (photo/Scott Nixon) REGIONAL WRAP UP Festive R.I.D.E. begins MIDDLESEX — The annual OPP Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program begins today. The OPP are reminding the motoring public of the danger of mixing alcohol with driving. Between today (Wednesday) and Jan. 2, 2007, the OPP are teaming up with police services across the province for the Festive R.I.D.E in an attempt to reduce impaired driving, the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. Last year during the five-week Festive R.I.D.E. Initiative, officers stopped 576,875 vehicles at roadside checkpoints, 278 persons were charged with criminal code alcohol-related offences and a total of 671 12 - hour licence suspensions were issued. Officers also issued 270 of the 90 -day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspensions. Officers investigated 37 fatal collisions in which 45 people lost their lives last year. Three of these deaths were alcohol related. Arrest made in robbery CLINTON — The Huron County OPP arrested three men after an early morning break-in at Clinton's Royal Bank Nov. 20, according to the Clinton News -Record. Charges are pending as the Criminal Investigation Bureau investigates, according to Huron OPP officer Const. Jeff Walraven. During a Huron OPP patrol of Clinton, officers found suspicious persons at the bank who fled after police arrived on scene. Police began pursuit and with the assistance of the Huron OPP and Western Region Emergency Response Teams, two males were arrested and taken to the Huron detachment. A third male was later apprehended after stealing a van, leaving town and getting in a minor collision with an OPP cruiser on Bluewater Highway, south of Bayfield. No injuries occurred. Wairaven can not confirm whether any money was stolen until the investigation is complete.