Media celebrities help launch Dreams2Live4

Jane Craig, 52, of Sydney had her dream realised last night and enjoyed dinner with media celebrities, James Valentine and Richard Glover at Cruise, a restaurant at the passenger terminal in Sydney.

The dinner was organised by a newly established charity, Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Dreams2Live4, which has been set up to help people with metastatic cancer, cancer that has spread, to achieve their dreams and help them identify goals to live for.

Organised by Annie Robinson, who has metastatic cancer, and two good friends, Rebecca Cox and Milenka Kolenda, and with the support of the Price of Wales Hospital Foundation in Sydney, the dinner at Cruise was the first of many dreams to be realised by the charity.

Jane says she wished to have dinner with James and Richard because they have made her laugh and have been part of her cancer journey, via the radio, over the past 16 years.

Jane, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991, has since had a brain tumor and bone and liver cancer, and has been under continuous treatment since her diagnosis.

“I heard about Dreams2Live 4 via Michael Friedlander, my physician at Prince of Wales in Sydney," said Jane. “I imagined that these surprises usually belonged to sick children.

“Michael and I had been talking about me starting another round of radiotherapy for the newly diagnosed lesion in my head and meanwhile changing to a new treatment for the liver disease.

“We "laughed" about the Dream offer in a positive way - it was the only good news of the day. I guess it was something I had never contemplated being offered, and was taken very much by surprise. I remember feeling quite chuffed and quite special afterwards.

Although I have had cancer for 16 years, and would certainly prefer to be without it, my life has been a wonderful journey. Wonderful, not for what I have done, but to have journeyed in such amazing company. There are many dreams still, but I have an acceptance of the future.”

James Valentine said: I am very proud to be associated with the first dream and the best thing about it – it’s all up from here.”

Ms Robinson said she was thrilled that Dreams2Live4 had been able to help Jane.

“Listening to Jane on the phone describe the joy when Professor Friedlander told her she could have a dream is the reason I wanted to do this for people. She started the conversation solemn and preparing for grueling treatment. She was able to finish the appointment light, happy and laughing about the possibility of goods times ahead. I know both feelings and I would prefer the latter. I know how good it feels and I want everyone to feel that way. I have no doubt it has helped me in my dealing with the every day of having cancer and keeps me alive. Why not share that with as many people as possible. We just need the communities help to keep it going,” said Annie.

Ms Robinson said a website is currently being constructed to identify both beneficiaries and donors for Dreams2Live4.

Contact: Annie Robinson 0400 781444