Fifteen-year-old Bongani Mpanza has wanted to fly for as long as he can remember.<\/p>\n
With Hodgkin’s lymphoma this seemed like just a distant dream.<\/p>
Hodgkin’s lymphoma \u2014 formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease \u2014 is a cancer of the lymphatic system.<\/p>\n
With this illness, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system.<\/p>
As it progresses, it compromises the body’s ability to fight infection.<\/p>\n
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system, the other type, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is far more common.<\/p>\n
With the help of the Reach for a Dream Foundation and Springbok Classic Air Bongani\u2019s dream recently became a reality.<\/p>\n
He was selected through a strict process and set of criteria.<\/p>\n
\u201cA child needs to be a South African resident, aged between three and 18 years of age, fighting a life-threatening illness and should not have received a wish from another wish granting organisation,\u201d explained Taryn Seegers, projects and events coordinator of the Reach for a Dream Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can accept a child if we receive the referral on their third birthday, or before the day of their 18th birthday.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom there we confirm if the child has a life-threatening condition; we will send a short form to the family asking for further information.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we have this form back we will arrange for our specially-trained volunteers or staff to visit the dream child, to find out what their dreams are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bongani, his mother, Nokuthula Mpanza, and siblings, Londeka (6) and Spihwe (10), were treated to a flight in a beautifully restored Douglas DC-3.<\/p>\n