This morning, Campbelltown was filled with the sound of sirens, but in a good way, as 2DayFM Breakfast’s Nath & Emma provided the first of their Really Cool Ride to School experiences for a very deserving 11-year-old.
Chayse is a Year 5 student at St John the Evangelist Primary School who lives with Cerebral Palsy. His mother, Taleisha, nominated him for the surprise, saying Chayse often faces sleepless nights in his struggle to fit in with his peers.
When Nath & Emma asked Chayse what his ultimate dream drop-off would be, his answer was simple: a fire truck.
Last Friday, Chayse and Taleisha were invited to the 2DayFM studios under the guise of a regular visit, only to be surprised with the news that his wish was granted. Brett from the Helensburgh Brigade stepped up to ensure the morning was twice as special, promising not one, but two fire trucks for the occasion.
Brett arrived at Chayse’s driveway at sunrise this morning. With him, and Chayse is a massive football fan, was Western Sydney Wanderers Captain, Lawrence Thomas (pictured above), who presented him with a signed jersey to wear proudly for his big day. Lawrence then joined Chayse in the fire truck for the ultimate VIP commute. With lights flashing, sirens wailing, and the iconic ring of the fireman’s bell, the pair shared the journey to school together, making Chayse’s very first ride in a fire truck a lifelong memory.
Once arriving at St John the Evangelist Chayse walking the red carpet through a guard of honour formed by his entire Year 5 cohort, with the excitement reaching a fever pitch as the team at Sony surprised him with his very own PlayStation 5 and a set of Sony headphones.
The the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Football Australia teamed up to stun the soccer-loving 11-year-old with a dream football package including eight tickets to the upcoming CommBank Matildas match against Mexico Women’s, along with his very own Matildas jersey. To top it off, he received an exclusive invitation to a private training session to meet the entire Matildas team in person—a gesture that left the young fan completely over the moon.
There was still more! A video message from Channel 7 personality and Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur and Chayse’s ultimate idol, singer The Kid LAROI, appearing on the big screen with a personal message just for him.
Everyone erupted in cheers and Chayse was mobbed by his school mates. Chayse, the new King of the School, spent the rest of the morning signing everything from handballs to schoolbooks, soaking up the well-deserved spotlight.
2DayFM Breakfast co-host, Nath Roye, said:
“Chayse’s story really struck a chord with us. Seeing the pure joy on his face as those fire trucks pulled up is exactly why we wanted to do this. We’re so thrilled to have played a part in making his dreams come true in front of his entire school today.”
2DayFM Breakfast co-host, Emma Chow, added:
“Today, Chayse wasn’t just fitting in – he was the absolute star of the show! He is the ‘King of the School’, and seeing his classmates rally around him with so much love was incredibly moving. This is a memory he’ll carry with him forever, and we can’t thank the people of Sydney enough for helping us not only celebrate, but build this giveback for such a resilient, brave young boy.”
The search now begins for the next to be a part of the 2DayFM’s Really Cool Ride to School next Friday.
You can nominate a deserving student for the next Really Cool Ride to School at 2dayfm.com.au.