MTJR Chat Forum

Each year, Starlight organise a day out for seriously and terminally ill children, at Popham Airfield, Hampshire.

An annual event - 350 children and their families have the opportunity to put aside their worries and fears and do things all children dream of doing - riding in a fire engine, or sitting on a Harley Davidson motorbike, or being the "pilot" in an aircraft. Riding in a Ferrari was a great treat! Even the Red Arrows flew by and made their famous "salute" to the children and families watching from the airfield below.

MTJR are honoured this year to be taking part in Starlight's Popham Day.

Our outside broadcast called "MTJR Live and Unleashed" will be at the airfield to help entertain the children and their families, with music, fun and (we hope) lots of laughter.

The event is invitation only, so unfortunately we cannot ask you to join us, but we hope to have loads of photographs to post after the event, and we hope you will join us in wishing for good weather and a lot of fun to bring those smiles out!

More info on Popham Day can be found here: http://www.starlight.org.uk/menu_pages/N...asp?id=188

The day grows ever closer, with not so last minute plans being made and days booked off work.

The only thing over which we have no control is the weather - so we must be prepared for any weather eventuality. Come rain or shine I think we are prepared ......

....... flooding might be a problem - the MTJR mode of transport doesn't have room for an ark!

With less than a week to go, preparations are in full flow for this day of magical entertainment and fun for over 300 critically and terminally ill children and their parents and siblings....

The hampsters have been fed and the wheels oiled to provide the electricity in the middle of an airfield, and the wet weather preparations are complete (it is England in the middle of summer after all!) - and JfK is practicing his moves in the "Time Warp" - the spectacular that will guarantee laughter from the glumest of faces (I know - I have seen him dance!)

Many thanks to those who have offered to come along and help MTJR Live and Unleashed on the day - we look forward to seeing you there!

Well, the day dawned foggy and drizzle, but cleared by mid morning to leave a sunny, warm afternoon that was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

Over 800 people (children and family members) came by car or by coach and had an afternoon of a lifetime! They flew in helicopters and microlight planes - they rode pillion on Harley Davidson bikes, they drove in ferrari's and old classic cars and limo's and even an old London bus!

There was also a mobile petting zoo, land hovercrafts, a land train, face painting, t-shirt painting, bouncy castle, bouncy cricket catching, knights in full armour doing display battles............ the list is endless.

Hundreds of people gave their time and skills free of charge and turned up to entertain terminally and critically ill children and their families - and how they were entertained! A magical day that was designed to make these children, their brothers and sisters and Mums and Dads smile - and smile they did!

I cannot begin to describe the atmosphere at Popham Airfield on Thursday - the closest I can get to is "fun and relaxation" - a day when the realities of what is really going on in their world can be put down for a few hours and fun was the order of the day.

We have photographs and interviews which will appear on our website soon - and all I can add for now is that it was an honour and a privlidge to be there last Thursday and help to entertain the crowds.

The pictures are now on the website, click on "Starlight Fun Day" in the red banner.

Interviews will follow soon