This is a day that evokes many feelings for our family, more than anyone will ever fully understand. We used to stand by the road and cheer. Then, I was born. I was in hospital for four months and came home, ready and strong enough, to go to my first convoy. I was on my breathing alarm and slept the whole time. The next year, I was having chemotherapy treatments and spent Convoy night in hospital. The next year, I had had my femor cut and repositioned in my hip. I was in my leg cast and brace.
This time of year brings up many scary memories, for us.
And now that I'm four... This kind of day is a reminder of my cerebral palsy... A reminder of how I can't tell Mum Dad that I want to ride in a truck.. A reminder that I can't even climb up in a truck for a look around... A reminder of the limits people put on me - which is a slap in the face for us, as we have a 'no limits' attitude, when it comes to me.
So for these reasons, Mum and Dad don't really like convoy.
But, this year was different.
This year we missed seeing our northern Convoy family of Lenny and Melissa. We've seen them over the last few years and we really have become family.
We did get to catch up with Yogi and PJ and were honoured he kept his word and carried my name banner flag (a secret we had been keeping for a week). We asked him to carry my banner down the mountain. We'd thought Lenny might be riding in the truck, with Yogi. Yogi is our western family and we look forward to him being joined by Amanda and the kids next time around!
We loved seeing Yogi and his truck carrying my sign. And, Yogi is such a lovely guy. He had a lot of people he could have been talking to, but he stayed with his truck and met everyone who came over to say hi. He posed for photos, wrote out signatures and let kids climb in PJ. And, all with a smile.
We are thankful for the McMahons ( Nicole and Derek) for all that they do with the peoples truck and for their offer a couple of convoys ago to put me in a truck. I was still very small, and having chemotherapy treatments. And also to Aaron and Christie who offered last year. I was in my brace and sitting for a long time would not have been possible.
Logistically, it was too hard both years.
But this year was different and Cath and her amazing Cops for Convoy team thought outside the box, and made it possible for me to ride in my first convoy. They put my modified car seat in the back of the car and made sure I was comfortable. Mum came with me. Dad had the noisy sisters.
I had such a great time! When the bikes went past, Mum held me forward and turned my head, so I could watch and listen. I can't tell them how much I can see the bikes. After a break in the bikes, Mum sat back with me. When the next lot of bikes came by, I heard them and I wanted to watch them. I leaned myself forward, and turned my own head. Mum was so proud! When Mum helped me raise my hand to wave, the muscles in my arm were a bit tight. That's the cerebral palsy... I want to wave, but it's a bit tricky! By the end of the day, I was raising my arm myself, to wave, whenever I heard a truck. Even when I was very sleepy at Croome Road, I heard the bop bops and my hand went up, to wave.
I fell asleep that afternoon, with a smile on my face. People are great.
I had a fantastic time and loved hearing the horns and the engines. I gave big smiles when I heard people on the side of the road call my name. Thanks for calling out to my. My police friends were amazed by how many people knew me.
This year, convoy was fun.
Thanks Camp Quality.
I told my police friends to leave Mum in here... but they let her out.
Thank you so much for looking after us! Cops For Convoy
I love them.
Thanks to everyone in the trucks, who gave my family an extra horn blast, wave, thumbs up and cheer, when they saw my sign.
Thanks to Aaron, for creeping over to say a cheeky hello!
We had our names on The Peoples Truck, again.
Head over to the Kendall Trucking facebook page and give Yogi and PJ a cheer!
The Lenny and Mel photo. They rode with Yogi last year, but couldn't get here this year. This is their flag. My sister loves Yogi! She called him Yoghurt and still remembers him, his bopbops and his purple PJ. Yogi called us Little Trucker! Kendall Trucking
When she saw Giggle, she asked Giggle to come over and say hello to me. I love that she is only two, but already, she knows how to make sure I am included in the fun things.
I am so proud of her.
I was very sleepy!
Check out these two... cheeky monkeys!
The littlest one cried when we took her off the bike!
We've raised $20,967 for the NSW Cancer Council, though Relay for Life.
We've also raised money for a couple of other charities. In total, in my name, we have raised $33, 212 for charity. Thank you so much, for helping me do that!
We'll be doing lots more fundraising in 2016.
But, You Don’t Look Disabled
Would You Like Some Cake, Dexter?
Dexter’s Femoral Osteotomy
We Nearly Lost Him
What a Dollar means to Dexter
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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