Kai has a tank full of fun fulfilling his wish
CHERIE HOWIE
It took three years for cancer survivor Kai Dalzell's wish to come true but the grin on the 10-year-old's face on Saturday left no doubt that the young Tasmanian thought it was worth the wait.
Kai and his family travelled to Omaka for the Classic Fighters Airshow as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the youngster had just one word to describe his airshow experience "awesome".
Part of that wish also included a request to ride in a tank, and just after noon Kai, helmet and goggles firmly in place, found himself zooming past the crowd in a British Abbot tank.
For Kai the experience was both "really fun" and surprising.
"I thought I'd just get to stand in front of it, I didn't think I'd get to ride in it."
The tank experience was part of a wish he made three years ago, while battling Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that most often affects children.
Kai's mum, Leann Dalzell, said Kai decided he wanted to go to Classic Fighters three years ago when he saw a poster for the 2007 show in Melbourne. However, because Make-A-Wish children have to be at least 10 years old to travel overseas Kai was told he would have to wait until 2009.
"They said to him `you can have any other wish, otherwise you'll have to wait till you're 10', but he was like `that's okay'."
The wait was a blessing because Kai has now beaten his cancer and the family can "really enjoy" their time in New Zealand, she said.
Enjoying a family holiday was special because Kai and his parents were separated from the youngest member of the family, Kai's sister Ash, during his cancer treatment in Melbourne. The then six-year-old spent six months living with extended family.
"It's really lovely for Ash too because she's been through a lot."
- The Marlborough Express
