Hi all! I have been asked to participate in this year's Thomas Brothers Wagga Wagga Takes 2, which will see me sing and dance over 3 sold out nights of 500 people. Although this is so very far outside of my comfort zone, I feel privileged to be raising funds for Country Hope. Country Hope is a country based, family support organisation that supports families with children diagnosed with cancer and other chronic life threatening illness in Southern NSW and North Eastern Victoria. Country Hope was established in 2003 and offers a regional service that ensures that our local diagnosed children and their families are able to benefit from ongoing practical, financial and emotional support. They also gain the opportunity to build very special friendships and bonds with other local children, families, carers and medical staff. The financial struggle that ensues when a child is diagnosed with a life threatening illness is enormous. Country Hope assists families financially with expenses such as flights to specialist medical treatment in the cities, electricity, rates, phone bills and rent. Sometimes jobs are put on hold for one of the parents or lost completely adding to the stress of having a child with cancer or other life threatening illness. Treatments can take anywhere between twelve months and two years in a Sydney hospital, with families living between city and country, siblings separated from their brother or sister and from one of their parents. Country Hope does not receive any government funding and relies entirely on donations from the community and fundraising activities. I ask you all to please dig deep and get behind this great organisation.