Hello everyone, my name is Pawel Loroch and I represent the Children's Cancer Relief Foundation in Warsaw, Poland. We had a chance to meet in May 2002, when we came to Helsinki (and of course the unforgettable Kuortinkartano in Pertunmaa) with my friends from the Ore Ore Club - Young Cancer Survivors Association. For most of them it was the first journey outside Poland.

During our visit I took my diary with me and wrote a lot every day. I didn't want to miss, or forget anything interesting. So, when Barbro Ahlstedt asked me if I Gould write a story of our journey, I though to myself: "Hey, it's almost ready!" And here it is:

Finnair welcomed us on board with plenty of Finnish newspapers with unbelievably long and funny titles. We had sandwiches with ham, cheese and vegetables + one Fazer candy and coffee. The stewardesses were of course blonde, very attractive and asked frequently if everything was all right.

Our first programme was a sightseeing tour by bus around Helsinki. Funny thing, they have no skyscrapers, all the buildings are quite flat, even the main headquarters of Nokia.

At the end of the first day we had an information meeting at Helsinki University Central Hospital. Then we spread - the kids went to stay with the families. WE WERE IN FINLAND!!!

We gathered at 10:00 a.m. and went to see the city. The kids loved the Sibelius Monument (about 100 photos taken!) and the really outstanding Temppeliaukion Kirkko. So different from those in Poland!

After the lunch Vesa took us to Linnanmäki to spend 5 hours of fun and pure enjoyment. And no one could say that those kids were ever sick of cancer. Such an enormous amount of laughter gave them a lot of power for sure.

We went to Suomenlinna Sveaborg (with a small ferry - something absolutely exotic for us) to have a picnic! We had Lihapulla (my favourite), sandwiches, fruits, wine and cookies. We spent about 3 hours there, but unexpectedly it started to rain and we had to run away.

In the evening we felt some Polish soul in the center of Helsinki - the 85th Anniversary of the Finnish Polonia Society – it was the first time I heard Moniuszko's text "Gdybytn ja byla sloneczkiem na niebie" in Finnish ("Jos olisin aurinko taivaalla").

Diplomacy day - we were invited to visit the Polish Embassy in Helsinki. Very impressive: the window view of the Baltic sea... the same one we see from Poland.

After that we all went to Pirkka Haarlaa's place, to have a great barbecue: Pirkka's great wife had prepared tons (!) of great meat, fish of course, potatoes, salads and ice cream. They live in Espoo - a place, where I could stay forever. Thank you Mr and Mrs Haarlaa! It was unforgettable!

That was something big for all of us: visit to the Oncological ward of the Children's Hospital in Helsinki. I was observing the faces of our kids. They were very concentrated and serious, asked plenty of questions, wanted to know more and more. The Finnish hospital doesn't look like those in Poland. There's a lot to be done.

Later we also saw Ronald McDonald's House, the same kind of place we have in our Foundation, in Mariampol.

As a contrast to the serious atmosphere yesterday we went to have a lot of fun today, and visited the Heureka Science Center. That is something we should have in Poland! Kids were running here and there, discovering, exploring and learning new things every ten seconds. We all have a "Genetic Passport" now. Because it was the last day in Helsinki we decided to go to the city center for the last time, to take a final photo of Mannerheim Monument, final shopping at Sokos, and final view of the modern art center Kiazma. Sad to go, but curious about Kuortinkartano!

Paradise on earth! 1 feel as if I were in a place with no problems: comfortable Building with nice rooms, two saunas, barbecue, places to have fun, and everything surrounded by really beautiful forest. We all had a great rest there: relaxed, calm and very happy.

We spent hours talking to each other. The kids (Polish as well as Finnish) were very curious about the differences in lifestyles, they kept asking questions and making jokes. It was very good to see them in such a good mood.

What is also important, is that 1 had a chance to draw a bow for the very first time of my life, and guess what? I did it! I shot the bird!

We have come to Finland to test ourselves - to see, if we are able to do everything we need and want to do, if we are strong enough. Some of the kids were not sure if they are so, but the whole visit proved them, that they are brave and smart, and they deserve to live a good life. Thank you Pirkka, thank you Vesa, thank you Anita, thank you Pete! Thank you everyone that helped us to feel so special during our visit to Finland. We are waiting for you in Poland... and we hope that you will come soon.

Greetings to you all -

PS. Happy 20 Anniversary!