Dream concert means Jovi-al day for Esther (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Dream concert means Jovi-al day for Esther

10:43am Wednesday 12th July 2006 in Local By Eleanor Stride

IT'S not every day that you get the chance to meet your rock idol but Basingstoke's Esther Camp is now in an elite group of people who have.

Esther was granted her wish by the Willow Foundation, which organises and funds special days for seriously-ill young adults.

An avid Bon Jovi fan, Esther, 32, first applied to the Willow Foundation with her request to meet Jon Bon Jovi two-and-a-half years ago, but, unfortunately, at the time, the band had no plans to tour the UK.

However, as soon as the band announced their 2006 tour dates, Willow was able to secure VIP passes for Esther and three friends to see Bon Jovi in Milton Keynes during the group's British tour.

Esther's big day started at lunchtime when, along with her sister Anneka, cousin Mandy and friend Julie, she was taken to Milton Keynes by chauffeur-driven limousine.

After enjoying the concert's backstage entertainment, the moment the girls had been waiting for arrived, and they were taken to the hospitality tent to meet the band.

Esther was delighted when she realised they were going to meet all of Bon Jovi, and not just Jon as she had thought.

She said: "I took a seat and Richie Sambora walked over, took my hand and said, Hi Esther, pleased to meet you', kissed me on the cheek and sat next to me."

Esther was then introduced to Jon Bon Jovi himself. She said: "Talk about weak at the knees! It was a good job I was sitting down! He kissed me on the cheek and I melted. I thought I was going to cry."

Esther was then able to show Jon her brand-new "smirk" tattoo based on the band's latest album Have a Nice Day. She said: "When he said it was cool, I nearly fell off my chair. Well that was it my dream come true and I watched the concert in a complete state of shock."

Once the concert was over and Esther had come back down to earth, she said: "The whole day was amazing and nothing will ever compare or come close.

"I want to say a big thanks to the Willow Foundation, without which this would never have happened, and to everyone in the band, particularly to David and Hugh for wearing the Motor Neurone Disease wristbands I gave them on stage that night."

The Willow Foundation was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV sports presenter Bob Wilson and his wife after the death of their daughter, who battled cancer for five years before her death at the age of just 31.

The aim of the foundation is to provide respite to seriously-ill young adults all over the country, raising smiles among those people for whom the ability to smile is challenged daily.

Mr Wilson said: "Our purpose at Willow is to help make dreams come true and to provide our recipients with very special memories.

"We're thrilled that Esther had such a wonderful time on her special day. After waiting such a long time to meet her heroes, she truly deserved it."

For more information about the Willow Foundation, e-mail info@willowfoundation.org.uk or visit the website www.willowfoundation.org.uk