Dreams inspire hope and a belief in the future. Reach For A Dream is dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses. Each month, we fulfil hundreds of dreams, bringing smiles to the faces of brave children. Our Dreams Matter feature is a look at the special moments that have brought joy and inspired many to be resilient and hope for a better tomorrow.

Firefighter Rayan saves the day!

Five-year old Rayan from East London is passionate about the world of firefighting, the big trucks, the uniform, the blaring sirens and the huge water hose. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up. Living with sickle cell anaemia, he continues to be adventurous, dreaming bigger than anything he’s ever seen.

The quiet but curious boy dreamed of owning a Bubblegum tablet. To make his dream day special, the firefighting team at Buffalo City Fire & Team came together to give Rayan a glimpse into the future.

They dressed him up in his little firefighter uniform, complete with a helmet and boots. He rode a big red fire truck, sirens blaring, putting a gleeful smile on the city’s newest firefighter. When the ride came to an end, Rayan found his tablet specially wrapped and hidden away just for him. A special end to an incredibly dreamy day.

Zenathi becomes best friends with Minnie Mouse

Zenathi from Mthatha loves bright and sparkly things and especially her favourite character Minnie Mouse. The five-year-old lives with a serious heart condition but that does not stop her from being a courageous fighter.

She dreamed of owning a Bubblegum tablet, to spend her time watching her friend Minnie Mouse. On her dream day, she went to Café Lang with her family and arrived to a beautifully decorated table, purple balloons and personalised cupcakes.

This sweet day was made even sweeter when Minnie Mouse came out to join little Zenathi at her table. The two shared the warmest hug and got to chatting like two long-lost best friends. Zenathi and her best friend, Minnie played games, shared jokes and laughed hearty laughs that could be heard throughout the café.

To make Zenathi’s dream come true, Minnie Mouse surprised her with a wrapped box. She excitedly unwrapped and opened it to find her tablet with the biggest grin on her face. This moment showed Zenathi that even the most whimsical of dreams do come true.

Ride along with Jihad

What do you get when you put all his favourite things in one place? A super excited Jihad! The three-year-old from Cape Town diagnosed with Neuroblastoma loves all things cars, dinosaurs and Chase from Paw Patrol.

When he grows up, Jihad dreams of being a mechanic because he loves cars so much, something he took from his dad. While he’s still young, he dreamed of owning a ride-on car, perfect for him to ride along his yard.

He spent his dream day bouncing and playing at Playstation by Rush, putting his excitement to use. His favourite cartoon character Chase from Paw Patrol came out to play with him, surprising the unsuspecting toddler. Just as the day was already fun enough, Chase came out with a ride-on car and handed it over to his new friend, making his dream day extra special.

Jihad’s beautiful dream and the many others we’ve made come true this month are a beautiful symbol of the importance of dreaming. Dreams bring joy and inspire strength to keep fighting for a brighter tomorrow.

Stay tuned for next month’s edition of reminding ourselves why dreams matter.