Copter adventure as friends rally for sick youngster

Young Brendon Thompson-Garland gets strapped in for his helicopter ride. Photo / Stuart Munro

He doesn't have long to live but the family and friends of 10-year-old Brendon Thompson-Garland are doing everything they can to make the little boy's life as memorable as possible.

And yesterday, the youngster with terminal brain cancer was flying high above Wanganui and ticking off another of the things he has yearned to do.

Brendon was buckled into Ian Wakeling's Robinson helicopter in a lunchtime flight from the airport over Aramoho (where Brendon's grandparents live) and then over Wanganui East School, where his classmates waved from the playground.

One of those at the airport seeing him off was his teacher Sarah Lourie, who was instrumental in arranging the flight.

"It's great to be able to do this for Brendon. He's just the loveliest boy," Ms Lourie said.

She has also been busy arranging a visit from the Wanganui Fire Service, has teed up a jet boat trip on the Whanganui River next week for Brendon, his dad Hayes Garland and two of his classmates, and is also lining up a ride in a police car.

He was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in 2007 and initially chemotherapy, radiation treatment and drugs arrested the spread of the cancer to the point he was in remission.

But now the disease is back and spreading rapidly and his family has been told there is no curative treatment.

But his mum Mihi Thompson said despite his illness, her little boy was "as happy as".

"He loves the idea of people spending money on him, that's for sure," she said.

"The tumour is growing so very fast. Radiation and chemo are all over because the cancer is spreading so rapidly."

At noon on Saturday, the family will be celebrating Brendon's life with a barbecue at Kowhai Park.

"It's just a family day and everyone's welcome to come along and enjoy the time with us."

Meanwhile, the response from locals is growing. Mr Garland said Gull service station had donated petrol vouchers to help with travel costs.

Anyone who would like to offer support can email brendonswishes@hotmail.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/Brendon'sWishes.

As for the brave little bloke as he was buckled in for his first ever helicopter ride?

"It's great. I've never been in one before."

And he was aloft and gone.