Run Wollongong Day!

Today was Run Wollongong Day!
We had so much fun. 
We wore matchy-matchy shirts and sprayed lots of colour in our hair. 
It was such a beautiful day.
We entered the 6km walk event, which took us around the Wollongong Harbour. The sun was shining, DJs were playing music and cheer squads stood on the side of the track.
We want to say a big thank you to all our virtual runners for supporting us. We had 20 people choose me as their virtual runner. We are honoured by that. Thank you for supporting us in whatever we choose to do. Thank you for showing us that you believe in us. Thank you for helping us help the Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward!
We passed a group of nurses, who all gave us a cheer. We spoke with a doctor, too. 
Because we had so many people letting me run for them, we made sure Mum and Dad did a bit of running for you all! They ran with the pram and the wheelchair (with the little scooter seat!).
Thanks to the kind man who help us up the hill bits!
Also, we want to say thanks to Aunty Carol and Nanoo for dressing up and helping keep my noisy sisters and I entertained! What a fun day!

It's been quite an adventure - the last five years.  
Those four months in three NICUs before coming home...
My brain damage...
The cortical vision impairment...
My quadriplegic cerebral palsy and all the heartache and pride that brings...
The therapy I've done and the equipment we've worked to be able to have access to...
My being non-verbal...
My femoral osteotomy and the time I was in the brace...
My hepatoblastoma and the whole cancer journey...
And through it all... My family; so much love and support and belief.
And these two... such empathetic, caring and thoughtful girls. 

I was so lucky! I met Wendell Sailor!
We asked if he would mind taking a photo with me. He didn't even hesitate! He stepped over a fence and sat straight down with me. He spoke to me and didn't even care about my wheelchair or that I wasn't speaking back to him. He even gave me a kiss on my colour-sprayed hair. The Noisy Sister thought he was pretty cool, too!
What a nice man!

I caught up with this beautiful girl and her Mum. As soon as she spoke, I looked around for her face. I haven't seen her for a while, but I remembered. Thanks for walking with us.
(Thanks to the other lovely people who signed up as part of the Love Dexter team! We really appreciate that! **No names, because we didn't ask).

We had a fun morning! This is some of the Love Dexter crew.

The Run Wollongong Girls came over for a photo, too! That was pretty cool!
​They were wearing red tutus, too!

We heard that over $80,000 was raised for the Wollongong Hospital's Children's Ward!
Wow!

After we got back, the Noisy Sisters wanted to do a bit more exercise!

We had a turn in the teacup ride. That was fun! Thanks to Nanoo for sitting with the Noisy Sisters, so I could ride with Mum. Thanks to Brooke for taking this photo. Thanks to Mum, for making sure I am always included. 

This was the first time we decorated my wheelchair wheels. It was fun! The wheels looked fun and it was nice to be in a cool, fun wheelchair. 

We haven't found out who our virtual runners are, yet.
THANK YOU! Each and every one of you! Thank you for supporting us and helping us give back to the Wollongong Hospital. We hope we did you all proud. 

Thank you Run Wollongong and all the sponsors.
We had a great time.
See you next year!
@runaustralia @runwollongong @cottonon 
#runwollongong #runaustralia 
https://www.runaustralia.com.au/ 

Wollongong Hospital & Me
We Nearly Lost Him
Flying Fox Fun
Mum was Crying in the Ball Pit
What a Dollar means to Dexter
When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word
About the Sisters
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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