Point Cook cancer sufferer Rafael Moraes is being inundated with cards and presents from around the world as his milestone 10th birthday approaches – giving him a new goal.
“I want to go and visit all these people who have been so kind,” the Westbourne Grammar pupil told the woman who organised a ‘card-a-thon’ for his birthday.
Tierney Randall, a Point Cook family day care educator, organised the card-a-thon because Rafael loves receiving cards.
She delivered a box of about 100 cards last week and has hundreds more to pass on.
RELATED: Make Rafael’s day with birthday card
The card-a-thon has grown after Channel 7 and other outlets picked up the Weekly’s original story.
Cards have arrived from the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Brazil.
Westbourne Grammarians Football Club got behind the grade 4 pupil last week, inviting him to a special photo shoot with players. They also gave him a singlet bearing the words ‘‘number one ticket holder’’.
Club spokesman Jeremy Heffernan said the picture of Rafael with the players was being made into a special birthday card because the boy “loves everything Westbourne”.
“He beamed from ear to ear throughout the whole evening. He had a kick with club president Simon Christo and his best friend from school,” Heffernan said.
“Everyone at the club was moved by the courage and strength of character in Rafael, as he can hardly remember life without cancer.
‘‘He left an indelible impression on everyone.”
No one realised at the time of last Tuesday night’s training session that Rafael would be in hospital the next day.
His father, Domingoes Moraes, said Rafael finished his latest round of chemotherapy on March 10 to treat neuroblastoma, a solid tumour cancer of the sympathetic nervous system.
But by Wednesday, he was running a fever and was hospitalised until Friday, when it was established he had a cold.
Rafael is counting the days to his birthday on March 25 and the Moraes family have been astonished at the number of cards already sent.
» Cards can be sent to PO Box 1617, Werribee, 3030
