Courtesy of: The Morning News
By: Rosalie Klein
Share a journey with a very special traveling companion for Clown Doctors Aruba
Peter Balliere, founder of Clown Doctors Aruba, welcomed island media to Taste of Belgium to officially announce the foundation’s 2013 fundraising campaign, Julien Collot’s Traveling Bear. Clown Doctors is an organization dedicated to visiting and entertaining hospitalized children, to relieve their boredom and fears from what is often a very terrifying experience.
This year, the foundation offers a most unique and interesting campaign to not only raise funds for their work, but also bring awareness for children with cancer, and hopefully donations to advance research for a cure. The focus of interest is an adorable blue bear, garbed in an official Aruba logo tee shirt, and travelers from Aruba are encouraged to invite this bear to be their companion during trips over the next year.
Rona Coster explained the origins of this very special bear. He was a favorite of a young man named Julien Collot, who battled Adult ADL Leukemia for more than half his life, triumphing over the cancer, but succumbing to Graft V. Hosts Disease at the age of eight. This was an unfortunate, but not uncommon, catastrophic condition brought on by the two bone marrow transplants he needed.
Julien’s mother, Jacqueline, had moved to Aruba from the U.S., becoming an “Americana/Arubiana,” with her heart always in the island. She had a strong network of friends and her relationship with her adopted homeland remained even after she married and returned to the States to live and raise a family. Her friends on Aruba shared her joy at the birth of her son, and Julien spent a great deal of his young life on Aruba, surrounded by friends who were enchanted by the exceptionally bright and precocious youngster. These friends shared Jackie’s pain over the years, and when he died. Jacqueline and Thierry Collot have kindly consented to loan the Clown Doctors foundation Julien’s favorite plush blue bear for this new campaign to raise funds and awareness
Julian’s Bear has already enjoyed a trip from Holland with some major European celebrities, which are posted on the Facebook Page: Julien Collot Traveling Bear. Jodi Tobman, founder of Salamander Holdings of Aruba, has already committed to a trip with the bear, destination undecided. He will soon depart for Paris, which will be documented on their FB page. Maduro Travel Agencies has also agreed to encourage its clients to take the bear with them when booking an excursion. He comes with his own special travel bag.
Funds are raised by travelers agreeing to donate a designated amount for each mile of their journey. Minimum donation is 25 cents (U.S.) for individuals traveling to common destinations in the Western Hemisphere, such as Miami and New York. It is 10 cents in Aruban florins for trips to Europe, which are a much greater distance. The committee expressed the hope that companies would pledge more generous donations, depending on their journey.
Individuals who cannot afford to donate large sums are welcome to take the bear for trips around the island and photograph him at such locations as the top of Jamanota or Natural Pool. “he is a very social being and would love to be a traveling companion to anyone wishing to help the Clown Doctors foundation with their important work,” reports Rona.
To schedule a trip with Julien Collot’s bear, contact Esmeralda at the foundation’s email address: juliensbear@gmail.com. or via their website. This is also where to send pictures and stories of his trips. Interested parties are welcome to contact Peter personally at peter_balliere@hotmail.com.
Mario Arends of the Aruba Tourism Authority was on hand to express the staunch support of the island’s tourism entity for the poignant campaign. A link to the FB page will also be placed on the official Aruba.com tourism website to encourage participation.
The campaign’s FB page has a very brief, inspiring video of Julien made when he was just six, with the belief that “I am a survivor,” before complications took his life. It is a touching homage and recommended viewing.
Organizers of the fundraising effort encourage island travelers to contact them and have his little blue “Ambassador of Hope” join them on their journey.
