He chattered a mile a minute in the car the whole way home. “Mom, they asked me to be on the McDonald's Dream Team again this year. This time, I’m going to make it, won’t I?”

My 8-year old son, Dennis Gudbranson, really wanted to do his part last year as a member of the McDonald's Dream Team, but his leukemia had other plans for him. It came back less than three weeks before the big day. Now, following a bone marrow transplant, Dennis is chomping at the bit: “Mom, let’s make this year’s the best Tour Nortel ever”.

And he has two enthusiastic and courageous McDonald’s Dream Team members who are just as thrilled as he is to represent Tour Nortel 2006: Hannah Billings, age 9, and
Manasvi Koul, age 13.

The shocking reality is that Hannah, Manasvi and Dennis are three of approximately 60 children and youth diagnosed with cancer every year at CHEO. As the mother of one of these children, I can tell you that those four simple words, “your child has cancer”, rock not only your world but also everyone’s around you. And we are blessed in our community to have the most unbelievable team of dedicated and caring individuals, ready and willing to stand behind us to fight this horrible and senseless disease.

Many people have asked me since Dennis was diagnosed in April 2004 what they could do to help. Here’s the answer:

Mark your calendars now! This year’s Tour Nortel takes place on Sunday May 7th at the Nortel Carling Campus. Come on out and walk, in-line skate or cycle in one of the tours, check out the fantastic on-site family activities and help us raise funds for CHEO, the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre and the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Bring the kids! Bring lots of friends! Put together a team! Remember, Cognos will match pledges to the McDonald's Dream Team!

Take a few moments now to explore the Tour Nortel web site. You’ll discover a wealth of information concerning this year’s fun-filled event. Then choose your tour and register—as an individual, with your family and friends or with your Ottawa Citizen Corporate Challenge team. For more information, please call the Tour Nortel hotline at 613-765-TOUR (8687).

On behalf of all parents of children with cancer, I’d like to thank you in advance for your generosity and time. The Tour Nortel is a fun and festive way of not only raising money to help our children and youth beat cancer, but also of reminding us how together we can make miracles happen!

We look forward to seeing you all on May 7th! Dennis will be the one with the huge grin on his face!

Let’s make this year’s the best Tour Nortel ever!

Donna Leith-Gudbranson