Hi folks

Last week I spoke to Pat Pearce MBE, the founder of the Dreamflight charity, the organisation I'm raising money for.

We had a lovely chat and last night she sent me a little piece she wrote for me to put on to the www.djworldrecord.com website, so that folks know a little more about what I'm rasing money for.

Here's an extract from her message - it had me in tears and more determined that ever to get this world record thing done and raise the £10,000 target I'm after.

Here it is then...

Start extract

The following piece was written by a 14 year old girl on her return from Dreamflight.

“It was not the location that made the holiday so special. Anyone, if they have enough money can go to America. It was the knowledge that I was not alone, that there were other people in similar situations that knew what I was going through.

Because I am used to the pain of everyday life, the frequent stays in hospital and the side effects of chemotherapy treatment, they have become normal to me and I tend to dismiss these problems as minor inconveniences. Instead of trying to forget and deny my illness, Dreamflight showed me how to face up to it and be proud of who I am and what I have to offer the world. They showed me that it wasn’t abnormal to be “difference” but a special quality.

I shall always remember the friends I made – we have a special understanding of each other and a bond that holds us together.

For a week I was pleased to be disabled, because if not, I might never have met these amazing people. We were on a completely different level from the rest of the world. I was with people who understood things that many of you will never understand, however hard you try – the pain of disease, the many limitations, the endless struggle to keep going and what it is like to lose your childhood. It definitely was a “Holiday of a Lifetime”.

Another young girl we took some years ago, was twelve years old and had a condition that meant that the last layer of skin would not stay on her body. She had to be bandaged from head to foot every morning, taking approximately 2 hours to complete. She was determined to be ready to go with the rest of the group at 9 a.m. each day and she was never late, despite the fact that we said she could come out later by car. She had never worn shoes before, but we managed to bring her home wearing a small pair of trainers. Sadly, she died some six months later and just before her thirteenth birthday. At her funeral the Reverend said that whenever he mentioned Dreamflight to her, it always brought a smile to her face. Her family all wore Disney ties and tried to make her funeral a happy occasion. They said that Dreamflight had given her something that they as a family could not have given her. “Contact with a lot of other children who were also suffering”.

pat pearce MBE
End Extract

Darren

Good man Darren - I'd love to come along and give you some support.

Cheers,

Jack.

top man darren i will be making the trip up when you do it.

Very hard to know exactly what to say when you read letters like that.

Keep that letter with you when you start the challenge Darren - it will help you achieve your goal.