LYS Diary: Day 8

Road to Nhill

I never realised how much the community engagement would effect me. It just goes straight through my heart. Sweating it out on a unicycle is such a tiny price to pay for the chance to engage with communities on a truly meaningful level. Today was everything I wanted Love Your Sister to be.

We rocked up at Jaypex Park and it was chock full of families, all gathered harmoniously in beautiful surrounds. One by one, I met just about all of them. Kim wore a massive pair of pink costumed knockers around town all afternoon and raised a small fortune.

I’ll give you this for free, those knockers would not have been easy to carry around and she soldiered through the heat like a right trouper! Janelle organised the whole shebang and hit it out of the park, so to speak.

Ten’s ‘The Project’ crossed to us and that was absolutely nerve-wracking, as it has been every time (3 times now - wow!). Then we had a sheep shearing challenge. Chippa the sheepologist, kept everyone entertained while poor Josh (gun shearer) had to take the city slicker through it step by step. I did terribly, but it didn’t matter. I had great fun and learnt a lot.

This trip is full of things I’d never have experienced otherwise. All these firsts tickle me pink, I tells ya. The Kennedy’s dropped over a pav after it all, and I thought, if I die tomorrow I die a contented man.

Connie's Diary: Feb 28 Part 2

Then after a big lunch in Hahndorf, a gorgeous German themed, tree lined tourist town not far from Adelaide, we got back in the boobmobile and went back to Adelaide for another interview.

Belinda Heggen from FIVEaa in Adelaide was just lovely and we had a lovely interview with her looking out on Adelaide city. Adelaide really is a beautiful city. Samuel and I lived in Gawler, just out of Adelaide when we were in grade 3 and 4, we came back for a visit when I had cancer the first time, but I haven’t been back since. It feels so different from Canberra which seems so new when compared with Adelaide with so many beautiful old buildings.

We then walked down the street to the Bendigo Bank on Pirie Street in the city where ‘Lil Miss Macaron’ had been selling her macarons all day. Now let me tell you about the gorgeous Bella AKA Lil Miss Macaron. She is 28 with 2 little kidlets, and she runs her own business baking and selling the BEST macarons I have ever had the pleasure of eating. She was inspired to offer her help after seeing Love Your Sister on The Project late one night, and she offered what she is best at, macarons! She donated the ingredients and set about baking, and baked solid for a whole week leading up to this day. She made every flavour you can think of in a beautiful, colourful, eye catching display which consisted of over 1900 mouth-watering macarons. On top of all this she also set about promoting the event, had a heap of promotional posters made up in order to spread the word, and then set up shop and sold macarons all day for Love Your Sister.

Bella had a friend with her, Jess, from Buggyboo, who has been eagerly printing up professional, Love Your Sister Posters. She has been selling them online and also at the macaron stall. Together Jess and Bella made over $4000 for Love Your Sister. I am so deeply impressed by Jess and Bella and was so honoured to meet Lil Miss Macaron.

It is so touching to see Adelaide get behind our cause.  Mel from Deventer opened her heart and her home to us and provided professional PR services for our Adelaide trip, Bella cooked her little heart out, Jess printed like mad, and the radio stations have all put their full weight behind us. It is really touching to see individual people, and businesses giving their time, a most valuable resource, and their expertise to help Love Your Sister raise money for research and to help us spread the word.

Connie's Diary: Feb 28 Part 1

We welcomed Thursday morning in with an interview with Dylan Lewis and Shane Lowe on Nova from the red bus, parked on the corner of a busy intersection. It was so funny, they asked the listeners to hoot if they saw us as they drov by and heaps of people hooted their horns. Every time, Dylan would  throw his arm up in acknowledgement, striking a pose not unlike John Travolta during his ‘staying alive’ dance. That Dylan is such a character. And check out producers Tim’s cool Hawaiian shirt and matching shorts, he must have been freeeeezing, ‘cos I was cold and I had trackies on!

Then we went to a park and did a live cross to my favorite morning show host, Mr Karl Stefanovic at the Today Show. I have never done a cross before. It is such a strange experience because you are talking into the camera, but you can hear the person loud and clear. It was great to talk to Karl again, the support of Karl and The Today Show is so important to Love Your Sister because it really helps us spread the word.

Then it was down the street to the studios of Mix102.3 and an interview with Jodie, Mark and Snowy. What an interview! We were there for half an hour and were chatting while the songs were playing, and they asked if they could ask some difficult questions. I said yes, I talk about my cancer and our family situation so much I didn’t think they could ask anything so difficult that they could make me cry in a quick radio interview. How wrong I was! They managed to cut to the heart of the matter in a couple of questions. Sam and I were both crying, the hosts were crying, it was really emotional. I felt so much during that interview it was really honest and I felt a little exposed, but I thought it would be good for people to hear about some of the issues that we tackle, not just the fun of riding a unicycle and getting sore butt cheeks. I wonder how people felt when they were listening, if it came across as emotionally as it felt for us in the studio?

Then we went to Cafe Scuzzi down the road and stayed there for an hour or so while people came down to meet Sam, get info on Love Your Sister and to buy merchandise. I got to meet some people I had been talking to on Facebook and some people who had been listening to the radio earlier so it was lovely to chat to people to whom the Love Your Sister cause means so much as well. And a shout out to Adam and Sonia who I met there, lovely to put a face to the name!

Then we hit the road and Sam rode the unicycle to Hahndorf. It was a real experience for me, following him in the van while he rode. Our sister Hilde and our cousin John rode with him on push bikes through the Hills of Adelaide. Whilst Hilde and John put in valiant efforts, they didn’t last as long as Samuel, it made me realise just how hard he has to work every day to do the k’s he is doing. It was also really interesting to see to how the team works together to keep Samuel safe.

Jon Bon Jonno rides behind him on the motorbike, then, Ley Ley follows them both in the van. They travel at 10-15km/h so hold up the traffic. The shoulder is often narrow or non-existent. Ley Ley and Jon Bon Jonno keep in touch by radio that is wired to the motorbike helmet and Ley Ley talks to truckies on the CB radio as they approach, warning them of the unicyclist ahead. The support vehicles periodically pass the unicycle and pull over so that traffic can pass. I think they are doing everything they can to keep Samuel safe, but it makes me worry. My brother and my nephew are out there riding on the side of roads on the unicycle and motorbike and we rely on all road users for their safety. Thanks to all the truckies and drivers who have kept him safe so far!  

Part 2 soon…

Connie's Diary: Feb 27

So I got there just before the boobmobile rocked into town, and the gorgeous Mel from Deventer PR came to pick me up from the airport and took me to her lovely sister and business partners home to meet up with the boys. Before I tell you more, I would like to stop here to tell you about Mel Deventer and Jody, her sister. They run a PR firm in Adelaide, and they came forward and offered to help Love Your Sister after reading about us in the Herald Sun back in January. Deventer is a whizz bang PR firm, who are well connected, very experienced and have a great way to help us. They not only volunteered PR services through their firm, but also put all of us in their homes, and organised everything about Adelaide down to the minute. Whether it is because they are very close sisters or just thought this was a great way to contribute to a great cause, I am so glad they jumped aboard.

Mel took me back to Jody’s place and we arrived at about the same time as the boobmobile. I was picturing that I would get to give Sam a big hug, and be able to sit down and have a chat and catch up, but that’s not how it turned out. He had been riding through the Adelaide Hills in pouring rain and he was soaked to the skin. After he had a shower and got warm and dry I thought we’d be able to catch up, but there was a key emergency, with no caravan keys to be found anywhere. So all eyes and hands were on deck searching for said keys, which after 45 minutes of extensive searching were finally located. Due to the delay caused by the keys we had to leave straight away, so no welcome hug or chat to be had, straight into action. I guess that is just the pace of Love Your Sister.

We went down to The Garden of Unearthly Delights where the Fringe Fesitval is held. We set up our merchandise table and mini and bikes and unicycles. It was fun and interesting to see how  Sam and the crew go about their fundraising activities in each town they visit. Having the miniature trick bikes and unicycles at the site where they sell merchandise is fantastic, ‘cos the young and young at heart get to have fun on the bikes and people who are more interested 

I got to speak to a lot of people about Love Your Sister. It was so interesting and at the same time heart breaking speaking to people about their experiences with breast cancer. There are a lot of stories of victory and tales that belong in the past because the people have recovered and moved on, but for others the pain goes on, because they are terminal and won’t get better, because the person they love is gone but the pain of losing them doesn’t go away easily, or because the loss is very recent. It was a real eye opener for me. Sam must have his heart broken 20 times a day, I don’t know how he can pedal 80ks then get off the uni to hear all of these stories. Samuel’s strength is physical and emotional. I have always loved and admired him, but now my admiration has reached new levels. I am so glad that these people who meet Sam along the way can talk to him about their experiences. And I am glad that Sam is learning about breast cancer from so many different viewpoints, it makes the whole epic adventure even more meaningful and poignant.

LYS Diary: Day 7

My oh my, did Dimboola turn on a cracker show! This is a town with a very healthy sense of humour my friends! Police escort into town - dingaling!

The main drag was closed off and lined with locals. We pulled out the trick bikes and the usual kid frenzy ensued. Met the locals. Shimmied with the Bendigo Bank team. Then, the moment I’d been waiting for. The emu challenge! A horse float backed in. The emu was clearly distempered, judging by how loudly it was thrashing about inside the float. I was pumped. But something wasn’t right. If this emu was feeling a bit testy, then what about all of the kids milling about? ‘What about the kids?’, I asked. ‘This emu doesn’t mind kids’, I hear back. I don’t have time to give it a second thought as the door thingy on the float was being lowered.

I scooted off quicksmart and after a few nervous moments, turned back to see…a guy dressed in an emu costume, running after me! COMPLETELY HOODWINKED! Like the whole Santa Clause thing, I wanted to believe, I suppose. Then it was straight off to the lawn bowls club for a roll! The locals were in such bloody good spirits and it was so infectious. Had a great time. Massive lid tip to the Brittons for making us feel so at home after an incredible day of family, laughs and community.

Thanks Gail Hislop!

A little love and thanks to Gail Hislop!

Our unspoken (until now) hero who also helped capture the apple challenge at Bacchus Marsh! Thanks for letting us use your photos! They are lovely shots.

If you have some photos please link in on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.

This may be my journey on a Unicycle but it’s about awareness for everyone so we’d love your photos! xsj

Love from That Space In Between!

Sarah from That Space In Between has just put up a blog post about Love Your Sister.

Read the Blog

Now back to Horsham Cafe’s challenge! Check out my Twitter pic… xsj