THE 1'
No. 167 • April 1996 • Circulation 15,000
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The dream comes true A promise made by worried parents to their daughter on her sick bed has been achieved. Six year old Vanessa Whelpdale, who featured in the last two editions of The Link, was given the go-ahead to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes and to visit Disney Land Paris in early March, weeks earlier than her parents expected. Vanessa told her mum and dad Lisa and Rob from Peatmoor that she wanted to see Mickey Mouse once she was better after she was diagnosed as having stomach cancer, a year ago on 21 March. With help from the Children's Relief Fund, the family travelled to France on 6 March and spent a cold week in a camper van visiting Disney and Lourdes. "Everything was arranged very quickly," said Vanessa. "We had thought the consultant would want Vanessa completely well, but when he asked her if she wanted to go at the end of February and she said yes, he gave us the all-clear. "Vanessa was overawed at Disney. But she
was so pleased when she saw Mickey, she went up to him and gave him a big cuddle; you can see the delight in her eyes." The family then drove several hunded miles to spend two days in Lourdes. "Vanessa enjoyed the visit to Lourdes most. Rob and I were so impressed by her belief. She spontaneously climbed a shrine on her knees; it took over an hour saying her prayers on each of the 40 steps. Her faith is so strong." Vanessa has been in remission since August and the prognosis is good. She still has to undergo further tests and have treatment and feeding tubes removed from her body. Once the scars have healed her next goal is to go swimming again. The Oasis Leisure Centre has told The Link that they will be pleased to provide plucky Vanessa with a special day out.
Mayor promises to give up cancer sticks Fifteen fags a day Mayor of Thamesdown Court. Bert Smith was encouraged to give up at a No Smoking Day exhibition in the West Swindon Centre on 13 March. Ina vaguely political statement, Court. Smith said he had given up smoking when Prime Minister Thatcher made John Major Chancellor of the Exchequer. But he restarted a year ago just before taking up his mayoral appointment. "1 become nervous about being the Mayor, but I will be giving it up in May when I step down," he promised. The exhibition provided shoppers with information about how quit the habit and take up a healthy lifestyle. Right: Mayor Bert Smith gets the treatment from health visitor Jane Lyons with the breathalyser, on-site massage therapist Deborah Lively and health visitor coordinator Francine Hendricks who takes his blood pressure
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Link month wiIi:: very special.
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Turn to page 16 to fincl out why Win a day out at the Badminton Horse trials on pa e19