Robert Connor Dawes Fund

Flight of Joy

by Virginia Rea

Pippa and I have talked this week about how happiness can come from bringing joy to others – at Christmas time this is an easy discussion to illustrate and have with Pippa – she has been busy ‘bagging & tagging’ some little gifts this week to help bring a little joy to her classmates, friends and family.
Yesterday joy was brought to Pippa. A very kind and generous supporter of the RCD Fund offered to fly Liz & Celia down for lunch and a visit. Wow! The result of that was Pippa got to fly in a helicopter and Liz and Celia got to have lunch at our place and meet Nibbles in the flesh, or rather, fur!
The helicopter ride was put on her happy list the night before along with going to school and seeing Jeff’s husky. We hadn’t really told anyone what was happening but as Pippa’s class wondered why we were leaving school at 10.30 instead of our usual 11.30 I asked her if she wanted to let them know. I am so glad we did!

We went home for Pippa to have a quick rest before Liz and Celia arrived. They were early – how I wish it only took me 60 minutes to get from Melbourne to Warrnambool! The excitement intensified as we spotted the helicopter buzzing ahead of us as we were driving down to the beach – they didn’t have to wait for traffic lights! Special arrangements had been made and the helicopter landed on a grassed area along the foreshore. Pippa, Liz and I went up first and did a flight along the coast and river before turning around to do a fly over Pippa’s school. Pippa was excited. From the distance she could see everyone gathered on the oval. She eagerly gave directions to Mark, “the blue patch over there on the grass is all my school friends!” What she saw was not only her whole school waving, but one class lying down spelling out her name! Very clever, very thoughtful and completely lifting the bar on the excitement level. We could see everyone waving and jumping around watching us as we flew by. She was thrilled and we looped around a second time for another look at her name. If only we had a horn to toot!!!

Thanks Pilot Mark

Getting Ready for Take Off

Thanks for helping Terry

Pippa and Liz enjoying lunch on the ground

A few friends dropped over briefly after school which was terrific – it meant that not only could Pippa relive the excitement of the flight, but she also heard about how much her school mates enjoyed being a part of it as well. They looked at photos and one friend successfully found himself in one of my photos – that in itself was fun. We woke up this morning and she again relived the moment via the front page of the newspaper sitting up in bed reading the article.

Feel Good Front Page Article

It was not so much a wish of Pippa’s that was granted; it was simply the extraordinary generosity of a man who didn’t even know us to fly Liz from Melbourne and do something memorable for a little girl. The added bonus of her thoughtful school community was the icing on the cake making it even more special and personal. Pippa insisted that Liz be in the helicopter with her and me – I am so glad Liz was there to witness Pippa’s reaction as we flew over her school.

When I told Patrick and James that Liz and Celia were flying down to see Pippa, the confused ‘why’ that often comes from teenage boys was answered with, “Why not? Some people get to live for 80 years and still don’t get to fly in a helicopter so in Pippa’s situation why shouldn’t she fly in a helicopter?”

As for what was on our Happy List for today……..it was going to the movies to watch Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Such a lovely and fun movie to watch. Perfect for today.

Fun Stuff Kindness Memories

11 Comments »

Arriving in Paris

by Virginia Rea

After hastily organising our trip to Paris we were all quite relieved to board the plane and head off into the night. Little did we know that our experience was already starting. We were greeted at the airport by Etihad Airlines and met by their special services ground staff in AbuDhabi and Paris to make our transiting and arrival as smooth as possible. Pippa and the boys were treated to a tour of the plane and cockpit and Pippa was welcomed on the Paris leg with a gift from Etihad purchased especially for her and the crew from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi made her the most gorgeous French card. The excitement was building and we weren’t even in Paris yet!

Our hotel on the first night was perfectly French and perfectly located a stone’s throw from the Arch de Triomphe. A stroll down the Champs Elysses for dinner was just in order before we all fell into bed to sleep for Australia.

Our thoughts at that time were also with the thousands of runners back in Melbourne preparing for Connor’s Run to raise money for research into brain cancer.

Bon Voyage from Etihad

Etihad Crew

Etihad Pilots

A gift to get Pippa warmed up for Paris

Trying for size

Connor’s Run not forgotten in Paris

A perfect Parisian Backdrop

A quick snap on the way to dinner

Thank you to so many friends for various forms of help in the past week and to those who were able to roll up their sleeves to help get our bookings of flights and accommodation done so quickly in such a busy time. The good wishes from everyone both in person, online and via text for our trip, along with all the tips and advice on visiting Paris, has helped transfer the focus to become a wonderful time of excitement and anticipation.

Fun Stuff

1 Comment »

Much Needed Research

by Virginia Rea

Today has been a cancer research themed day.

On Australia Day Pippa was the VIP guest at a fundraising event in Warrnambool.

This understated little event called Kick-It Down Under was held in aid of the Royal Children’s Hospital Cancer Research. The second time it has been held in Warrnambool (the only times outside the USA), it is part of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation raising much needed research money across the United States for Paediatric Cancer. The game (Kick Ball) is similar to baseball but with a large rubber ball that is kicked. I had to do a bit of googling to work it out but my children tell me in Australia they call it “Boot Ball” and play it at school and with friends in the street.

The participants of the game were the Australian and USA Sprint Car drivers who were in Warrnambool for the Australia Day Long weekend Classic. This is about where my knowledge of all things sprint cars starts and ends, but I think that this particular meet may be the biggest (should I say in the world? I don’t know, the Southern Hemisphere perhaps sounds pretty safe). Pippa started the game off with a “pitch” and then also kicked and ran for both teams. A fun experience! Today was the cheque presentation to the hospital.

Later this afternoon we also went to meet the family who have started Robert Connor Dawes Fund. In memory of their son, brother and friend, this group are campaigning for more brain cancer research. They are also the inspiration, motivation and support behind Pippa’s yoga and music therapy through her radiation and now her continued yoga therapy in Melbourne. It was a little bit confronting for me and I was quite apprehensive. Liz has been on the other end of a text message for me and I felt I wanted to meet her. I’m glad I did but I am particularly glad that they were abe to meet Pippa. I applaud them for all they are doing and for speaking up loud for brain cancer research and hope that by meeting Pippa their fight will be inspired further.