Michael (16) reached his dream

Being terminally ill didn’t stop Michael Lubisi (16) from realising his dream of flying.

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and fundraisers of the Reach for a Dream Foundation, Michael and his mother Violet boarded a small aircraft at the Mogale City Aerodrome in Krugersdorp.

Michael suffers from acute limphoblastic leukaemia, which he was diagnosed with in December last year. He had to be transported from Mpumalanga to Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria to receive the required treatment. In Pretoria he came into contact with the Foundation, an organisation that fulfils the dreams of terminally ill children between the ages of three and 18.

Ex-policeman Louis Cole, who has been flying as a hobby for the past 20 years, raised funds for Michael’s and others’ dreams during a plane trip to Namibia last year. The 61-year-old who previously was stationed at the Roodepoort police station raised a total of R225 000 during his trip.

“According to the Foundation the average cost of realising a dream is about R5 000. So roughly 44 dreams can be realised from the funds raised,” said Cole.

The Lubisis and Cole were accompanied by Foundation volunteers Andy Maja (25) and Takudzwa Madhina (21). After pilot Francois Tolmay has showed Michael the workings of the small aircraft, they set off. Tolmay showed them what Krugersdorp and a part of Randfontein look like from the air.

Upon his return Michael could not stop smiling, and was surprised by his volunteers with a brand-new Playstation 3 and video games.

“I’m happy,” Michael said, it being the best way to sum up his experience.