This year, the Joshua Foundation has yet again been proud to stage its flagship fundraising challenge- the Oz Experience. The 2007 programme has a team of 130 members from schools across the U.K. They have raised considerable funds and in doing so have made life changing experiences for children with terminal cancer.

This summer 6 teams left Heathrow airport on the 10th, 11th and 24th July. The groups flew with Etihad, sister airline to Emirates, taking a quick stop in Abu Dhabi before continuing their flight to Sydney.

Leaving on the 10th July, the Wallabies and Koalas began their experience and upon arrival into Sydney, both teams transferred to domestic terminals and caught their Virgin Blue internal flights. The Wallabies flew to Melbourne staying at Melbourne Metro YHA and the Koalas flew to Adelaide staying at Adelaide Central YHA. Both teams visited the Children’s Hospitals in their arrival cities where they met some of the families and children on the oncology wards. Here they passed on the gifts they had brought from home. The groups also enjoyed their free time, exploring the places themselves before getting ready for their intense week of Conservation Work.

The day after, on the 11th July , the Skippies and the Wombats flew to Sydney. Once arrived in Sydney, the 2 teams met their coaches and the Skippies travelled to Wollongong, staying at Wollongong YHA and the Wombats travelled to Newcastle staying at Newcastle YHA. The Team members then had free time to explore these two areas within New South Wales before their week of Conservation Work.

The week of conservation work truly was a success. With the help of Conservation Volunteers Australia, the team members really made a difference to the environment. The groups worked their socks off! - from tree planting to maintaining and building pathways.

Whilst the first 4 teams had settled into their working patterns, Sydney saw the final 2 groups arrive after departing the UK on the 24th July. A bus waiting at Sydney took The Dingoes to Wollongong YHA and The Possums to Newcastle YHA.

After all 6 teams had finished their weeks’ conservation work the teams flew or took coaches back to Sydney where they stayed at Sydney Central YHA. Within Sydney itself they managed to visit the famous Bondi Beach where free time was given. Integrated into their experience was the visit to The Jewish Museum, where much of what they had accomplished the previous week had been put into perspective; changing lives of many people.

Here all Wollongong and Newcastle teams, and some of the Melbourne team visited the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, meeting the families and children on the oncology wards. They passed on their wide range of gifts to the children they had brought from home.

As per tradition, the teams climbed The Sydney Harbour Bridge and then caught a ferry to Manley. Rounding the whole experience off was the picture taken outside Sydney Opera House - here the team members shared more fantastic experiences.

There were optional excursions as well - 96 people had a meal on the same evening in the revolving restaurant in Sydney Tower. Many also enjoyed the thrills of the Oz Jet.

On the final evening, the teams came together at Hard Rock Café to share more and focus on the new friendships they had made.

This successfully concluded what had been a life changing experience for all the team members. As well as changing their lives, they had provided more life changing experiences for children with terminal cancer. Thank you to everyone who made the 2007 trip such a success and we wish all the team members the best of luck for the future.

For more information about the Oz Experience, visit the oz experience website