Times to treasure | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Shiver me timbers, are those wee pirates on the Hauraki Gulf? They sure are - and they've braved short lifetimes of obstacles to be there, as Kate Jarvis discovers.

A fortnight ago, he was under general anaesthetic for a two-and-a-half-hour operation.  Today, he's driving a catamaran. Meet 6-year-old Zavier Coulam of North Albany.

Zavier was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May 2008 and the recent surgery was to relocate the access port in his chest for his chemotherapy injections.

Not that  you'd guess any of this today. Instead, this very grown-up youngster is one of a band of pirates - and a few fairies - cruising aboard the Olympic Spirit on Auckland's harbour.

"It was a big shock" says Zavier's mother, Kylie Coulam, recalling the day they were told of his illness. "We had just had a new baby when we found out."

Leukaemia affects the blood so, by the time his family learned of his condition, the cancer was all around his body. But Zavier's illness was acted upon quickly and he has about a 90 per cent recovery rate with treatment.

However, treatment takes a long and arduous three years.  The boy  who beams at the prospect of going out on deck with his big sister, Olivia, is woken in the middle of the night for a daily dose of chemo. But that's the everyday routine for this family, and the stories from  others on the boat are similar.

Rachel Durney's 4-year-old son, Charlie Cooper, also suffers from leukaemia but is having a great time sword fighting with 3-year-old brother, Harrison, and dad, Jamie.

Charlie is nearing the second year of the  treatment process. "The first month was horrid and really intensive," says Ms Durney, of Browns Bay.

Like Zavier, Charlie must also take steroids, which seriously alter his eating habits. Ms Durney chuckles as she says: "He ate a whole punnet of strawberries yesterday."

Until a month ago, fear of infection kept Charlie housebound.

"Today has been brilliant" says Ms Durney. "It's a family trip out which we don't get to do often. In fact, it's probably the first family outing we've had since he was diagnosed."

Amada Cruises and actresses from Other World Productions arranged the day out for the Child Cancer Foundation (CCF). "We just really wanted to do something for the kids," says Amada Cruises' captain Mark Brewin.

Foundation member Alan Wiley comments: "I really think it does everyone good to talk about it. It's so neat to just have good interaction with others to see where they are in the journey."

Mr Brewin would like to thank Auckland Coastguard and Burnsco Marine and Leisure for lending  children's lifejackets, and also St John, which did not charge for the day.

Fairy ride

Tinkerbell, aka Elizabeth Alexander from Waiheke, has been involved with CCF for 11 years with Other World Productions' owner, Sally-Ann Stones. "I was always the crocodile and she was Tinkerbell," she recalls. Sadly, though, Sally-Ann died last year from ovarian cancer. "It's really appropriate that we come and support this cause."