Clown plans goodwill trip to China in April

Cape Girardeau resident Ellen Dillon will make a goodwill clowning trip to China April 30 to provide a dose of humor and joy.

Clowning became part of Dillon's life in April 2001 at the Show Me Center, where she attended a Patch Adams lecture that shared his approach to medicine as a means for people to improve their quality of life through love, humor and relaxation.

Adams, a physician, was the subject of the 1998 film "Patch Adams," starring Robin Williams.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Adams showed a short film clip of clowns sharing love, joy and laughter in a hospital for sick and dying children in Croatia. He indicated there would be a clowning trip to Siberia in the fall and invited interested individuals to speak with him afterwards.

Dillon did not stay to speak to Adams but tracked him down later that evening. She called his hotel and awakened him. Her questions were all about clowning and the trip; his responses were about her goals and expectations. Essential to his treatment of everyone he encounters -- especially his patients -- is what's important to them and what makes them happy.

Dillon was transformed into a clown following that phone call.

What Dillon experienced in Siberia cannot be translated, she said, but family, friends and supporters did receive e-mails, pictures and PowerPoint presentations as she attempted to share the experience.

She believes that when people care enough to reach out to people in these remote places brings a sense of world community to everyone involved. The clowning trips are often planned for more remote areas of the world because of the isolation from assistance these needy people encounter. In many parts of the world people are fortunate if they are able to receive medical treatment.

Postponed by SARS

Original plans for the China trip in May 2003 were canceled by an outbreak of SARS. Dillon discovered in November that she wouldn't be able to follow through with plans for the postponed trip due to loss of her job at the end of the academic year. She enlisted the help of a replacement clown and all was well until the replacement lost her funding.

As it stands now Dillon will use money from her unemployment savings account to pay for the trip. She said, "I made the commitment and it needs to be honored."

"The trip is about taking love and laughter to places in the world where people are struggling to get through their day-to-day existence. It is about acknowledging how small the world really is and how we need to care for one another," said Dillon. "Medical studies have shown how healthy humor and laughter are. We breathe more deeply and are energizing endorphins when we laugh, so the pain is forgotten for a while. When you're care-clowning, you treat everyone with respect, love and joy. That's a good lesson for life," said Dillon.

Those wishing to contribute may contact Dillon at edillon1@charter.net or 335-0120.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133