Australian cricket team helps out Dreams2Live4

A Brisbane woman, Alecia Baird, 36, who has lived with metastatic (long-term) cancer for the past 11years, had her dream realised last week when her son Cody, 12, was allowed a special visit to watch the Australian cricket team train.

The visit to the practice session for Alecia and Cody was organised as part of a unique initiative, Dreams2Live4, which aims to help long-term adult cancer sufferers identify and realise their dreams. The practice session in Brisbane was one of the last for the Australian Cricket team before they flew out to South Africa for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

“It was brilliant to see Cody’s face – he was mesmerised. His father passed away when he was a young boy so he has never experienced anything like this before and to see him so happy on the day was everything to me,” Alecia said.

The Dreams2Live4initiative is the brainchild of Annie Robinson, a woman who has lived with metastatic cancer for the past eight years. Annie was featured in a special documentary on Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope last night on ABC TV, which told the story of her inspiring battle with cancer.

Annie’s life mission, with the help of The Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, is to give people living with metastatic, secondary or advanced cancer, goals to focus on – helping them to live a more positive and healthy life.

“There is excitement and anticipation in identifying, planning and focussing on a dream. If we can encourage people to think of what their dreams may be and help them achieve these dreams, they just may improve the outlook of their disease,” Annie said.

“The aim of the initiative is to encourage people who live with cancer to live life to the full and overcome emotional limitations they may have as a result of living with a chronic disease. There are many similar opportunities for children with cancer but none for adults.”

Earlier this year, Annie lived her own dream when she performed with Australian musical group, Human Nature at a concert in Wollongong in front of more than 7,000 fans.

Jane Craig, of Sydney, has also lived her dream, enjoying a special dinner with radio personalities James Valentine and Richard Glover at Cruise restaurant.

Andrew Denton and Gai Waterhouse are ambassadors for Dreams2Live4,in partnership with the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation. Recipients of Dreams2Live4 are identified by the oncology department at Prince of Wales Hospital. Several people are expected to have their dreams fulfilled over coming months.

The committee now aims to attract supporters who have the contacts to assist them in realising the dreams of many more cancer sufferers in the future.

For further information please contact: Annie Robinson. Ph: 0423 790669