Mix102.3’s Jodie & Soda make a child’s dream come true.
Adelaide has a new hero after eight-year-old Alex Tann, who suffers from brain cancer which has taken away his sight, miraculously rescued two of the city’s most high profile AFL players from a ‘burning building’ in the CBD’s Beehive Corner on Friday.
The elaborate stunt was all part of Mix102.3’s Jodie & Soda’s ‘Make Alex’s Day’ campaign to help Alex realise his dream of becoming ‘the best firefighter ever.
Listen to Alex’s story here.
For the past four weeks, Mix 102.3 listeners have made hundreds of donations, with suggestions and support pouring in from all over the city.
Radio rivalries in Adelaide were put aside to help raise awareness for the campaign, with Mix 102.3’s Jodie & Soda throwing out the challenge earlier this week for the Adelaide media to jump on board and support the cause.
On Thursday the pair did a live simulcast into FiveAA’s David & Will Breakfast radio program.
Alex was made the Honorary Chief Officer of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service and at midday when the fire alarm went he was sent out on an important rescue mission to save the historic Beehive Corner Building in Rundle Mall from being ‘engulfed in flames’.
Accompanied by a police escort as part of a convoy through the streets of Adelaide, Alex arrived at the building, wearing a custom-made firefighters uniform, and bravely boarded a cherry picker to hose down the flames.
Cheered on by thousands of fans and onlookers, Alex reached the building only to find Port Adelaide AFL player Travis Boak and Adelaide’s AFLW star Erin Phillips trapped inside.
Alex rescued the footballers and once everyone was safely back on the ground, the little hero was thanked by the South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, Lord Mayor Martin Haese and SA Metropolitan Fire Service Chief Officer Greg Crossman and given an award for his bravery.
Alex was also presented with an award from Mix 102.3’s Jodie & Soda, written in braille, declaring him the ‘Best Firefighter Ever’.
Alex’s proud father, Phil Tann, told The Advertiser the support they had received was “absolutely mind-blowing”.
He said the trip from the MFS headquarters on Wakefield St to Rundle Mall was “an emotional rollercoaster I didn’t expect”.
“I got so emotional seeing the sheer volume of people lining the streets for Alex,” he said.
“This is my little boy and these people are out here to support him. It really has been such a wild ride.”
Alex was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was just three-years-old suffering from multiple tumours in his brain and irreparable damage to his optic nerve which resulted in the loss of all vision. Listen to his story here.
There are more than 400 children like Alex and his family that need support.
The Childhood Cancer Association provides ongoing and practical hands-on support for children with cancer and their families, and you can make a donation here.