An amazing man is planning on cycling across Australia to raise money for Radio Lollipop and the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund.

60 year old Andrew Dickson has his solo, unsupported trip all planned:
“On Sunday 19th August 2012 I fly almost half way round the world to Perth, commencing a bicycle trip that will hopefully see me crossing Australia. After a few days getting acclimatized and seeking advice, I start pedaling eastwards on a 4000 mile crossing which takes in Norseman, the Nullarbor Plain and cities of Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney before hopefully I reach Brisbane in time for my flight back home on Saturday 27th October.”

The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund supports the work of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and has funded projects such as a new fully adapted mini bus that can take children with complex disabilities on trips.

You can support both Radio Lollipop and the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund by sponsoring Andrew:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/bikingacrossaustralia

Every penny donated will be put to good use in the treatment and care of children and young people at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Photo: Andrew with Radio Lollipop Volunteer Siobhan Walsh

Tickets for Perth Arena’s opening act George Michael went on sale this week. The first two printed are classed as the “golden tickets” of a lifetime. Never to be another one like them, the double pass will give its owner 12 months access to each event at Perth Arena.

This week saw the Minister of Sport Terry Waldron and AEG Ogden’s General Manager David Humphreys donate the “golden tickets'” to Radio Lollipop at our studio in Princess Margaret Hospital. The tickets will be used in a raffle draw to raise funds for Radio Lollipop.

Radio Lollipop’s Chairman Kristi Clarke said it was a privilege to be nominated as the recipient of such an amazing gift.

In 2016, Radio Lollipop will be moving to the state-of-the-art, 275 bed New Children’s Hospital.
Funds raised from the raffle will be used to help ensure Radio Lollipop can continue to deliver its service to more than 43,000 children who will be patients at the hospital in it’s first year. That includes everything from putting our volunteers on the ward, to providing craft supplies and games and of course building a new radio studio to keep the music playing at the new hospital.

“Donations from the raffle will provide substantial funding to continue our unique brand of care, comfort, play and entertainment to Western Australia’s new children’s hospital” said Kristi Clarke.

The general public will have a chance to win these “golden tickets” by purchasing a raffle ticket and going into the draw. Raffle ticket will be available to purchase online at www.goldenticket.net.au as of July 1st, 2012. All money raised from the raffle will go directly to Radio Lollipop.

Radio Lollipop would like to say a BIG thank-you to the Minister of Sport Terry Waldron, AEG Ogden and VenuesWest.

Runaway Bay Seagulls Football Operations Manager Glenn Lee began working at the club last November and said he had been wanting to support a suitable charity. He said with 554 children playing for the club Radio Lollipop and Act for Kids were worthy charities on the Gold Coast.

On Saturday, June 16, the club raised $3200 on its inaugural charity game day and Mr Lee said the funds would be split 50/50 between the two organisations. “My job is to make sure the kids have a place to play – we are one of only a few that have an under 5’s competition – and when I started I decided we needed a charity to support,” Mr Lee said. “I worked with (former Gold Coast State Parliament member) Peta-Kaye Croft and approached the club’s board about supporting some suitable organisations. “The chances of one of our kids needing help from Radio Lollipop or Act for Kids is quite high. “We have already had four or five kids in hospital this year.”

Mr Lee said the club was planning to have an annual event as well as more fundraising activities throughout the year. “It was a normal seniors rugby league game and we included the Under 5’s, Under 17’s Under 19’s, Reserve Grade and Our Flag Ship, the A Grade make a day of it,” he said. “We had the seniors play in 1974 jerseys and they were auctioned off on the night as well as a live band.” During the day, Radio Lollipop volunteers painted faces and entertained with balloon animals and Act for Kids held a barbecue and a jumping castle on the footy sideline.

Club supporter Susan Fitz was at the event to watch her grandchildren play but also enjoyed watching the face painting. “It’s absolutely fabulous what these charities do – they do everything for nothing,” she said. “My grandson who plays at this club was in hospital earlier this year having his appendix out and was involved in Radio Lollipop. “He made friends there who he has stayed in contact with so it’s great when they are sick in hospital to have that.”

Jackson Maslen, 5 who played in the Under 5’s team last year and this year had his face painted batman-style while his father Josh Maslen looked on. “It is a great day – anything for charity is good and raising money for kids in hospital when they are sick is a worthy cause,” he said.

L-R Jack Greer, 10, Radio Lollipop Director Sandra Ursino, Runaway Bay Leagues Football Operations Manager Glenn Lee, Act for Kids Development Manager Sarah Osman, Joel Warwick, 9 and Javan Barnard, 4 (front).