Almost all of my experiences with Beatles news sites, radio stations, websites, and fan sites have been remarkably positive. In fact, I've only had ONE bad experience.on a tribute band fan site. The fans there were "mean, moody, and NOT magnificent." But out of every experience we glean some good.and it was through that site that I happened to meet Debbie, Wayne, and Dara Roberts (who flew to my defense when the blue meanies attacked me!)
The Roberts are one of the nicest, most vivacious, exuberant families in America (possibly the universe). And daughter Dara is the star of them all.
Dara is 19, creative, talented, and dang smart. In fact, in just a few days she is headed to Stanford University to study journalism or history (not quite sure yet). And that's not all: Dara is an all-out, full-on, committed, ever-lovin' Beatles fan! I know, I know.those facts, in themselves, would be enough to make us fall in love with Dara. But wait, there's more.
This smiling, giggly, pony-tailed, lovely young lady has "every reason on earth to be mad" because over the last few years, she has endured 12 surgeries...complicated, serious surgeries for cerebral palsy. She has been in and out of the hospital more than most of us will in an entire lifetime. But it hasn't changed her joyous outlook on life. If anything, it has made her even more excited about life and living it well.
Dara's story is below. But before you get wrapped up in her great, heart-touching narrative and photos, I want to say: Dara needs a new wheelchair for college. She really does. Let's send her off to college with this essential piece of equipment. Please give from your heart to this cool, talkative, brilliant, sweet young lady who showers the world with love. Just click the button below.
Or if you'd prefer, you can send a check (made out to Dara Roberts Fund) to:
Dara Roberts Fund c/o S.R. Riley's Musical Café 101 Commerce Street Bridgeton, NJ 08302 A little more info HERE.
My name is Dara Roberts, and I am 19 years old. I have cerebral palsy, and I am a wheelchair user. I have had twelve surgeries on my hips, legs, spine, and arms. It has been a "long and winding road," but despite my disability, I have managed to survive through the surgeries and overcome rough times thanks to four young lads from Liverpool that changed my life forever. It all began with a commercial that I saw on TV promoting The Beatles new album in early 2000...
I was nine years old when I was watching TV in the family room one day, and the "Beatles One" commercial came on. I had no idea who the Beatles were. My parents were major Beatles fans, having grown up with them in the Sixties and Seventies. At first, I thought, maybe they are just an ordinary, average rock group of today, I won't like them. Little did I know that after I saw that commercial, I would become a fan for the rest of my life.
In late 2000, as I was recovering from one of my surgeries, I got my first taste of Beatlemania. I had a body cast from my chest to my feet and had come home from the hospital. I remember watching TV as I lay in the hospital bed in our family room. My mom went outside to get the mail. Included in that day's post was an Ed Sullivan video called Smash Hits of the 60's. I asked my mother to tell me more about the Beatles.
"They were one of the greatest bands of all time. They came to America from England in the Sixties," she told me. "We used to listen to them all the time. I know you'll love them!"
Mom was right. When she put the video on, and I looked at the Beatles for the first time on the screen, I instantly fell in love with them! Paul McCartney became my favorite Beatle with John Lennon being second.
The very first performance was The Beatles singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand." From that moment on, I became a Beatles fan. I gradually learned all their songs as I listened and sang along to each album. I have many favorite Beatles songs, but my all time favorite Beatles song is "Yesterday." The first time I heard it, I melted from the sound of Paul's soothing voice; I would fall asleep to him singing it every night when I went to bed.
The first Beatles movie I ever watched was A Hard Day's Night. I remember bursting into laughter after watching John in the bathtub! I would hear one of their songs on the radio and scream every time they came on and start to sing along with the boys. My dad rediscovered the Beatles after I started listening to them. He had heard many cover versions of their songs when he was growing up and didn't know that The Beatles wrote them. Soon my mom and dad were singing their songs all the time, and we became a Beatles-obsessed family.
My love for the Beatles and their music continued to support me throughout my surgeries and lengthy rehabs. From then on, the Beatles would be with me in the O.R. for all my operations. I brought little Beatles figurines and "Paul" accompanied me everywhere.
In December 2006, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, I needed to have an operation on my spine to correct a 120-degree curve. When the doctors hooked me up to an I.V., they gave Paul an I.V. too. Two operations followed in Wilmington, Delaware at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in December 2008 and February 2009. My surgeon there was a major Beatles fan. He played Beatles music in the O.R. for me during surgery. Of course I was sleeping while they operated on me but when I woke up, "Paul" was in the hospital bed with me in the recovery room. After my surgery, the doctors in the O.R. listened to Beatles music while they were working on other patients.
In May 2009, The Beatles helped me once again when I had another operation on my right hand/arm at Shriners Hospital Children in Philadelphia. I had a purple cast afterwards, and while I was still sleeping, the doctor put a white cast on "Paul" to match mine. I also had a Beatles blanket on to keep me warm along with Beatles pillows to rest my arm on. Even though many of my surgeries were long and difficult, the Fab Four have helped to keep me on a positive track through their music and words.
My love for the Beatles over the years has allowed me to connect with many Beatles fans and people who have worked with and are associated with the Beatles. I have seen many Beatles tributes/shows including 1964 The Tribute, RAIN, The Mahoney Brothers, Working Class Hero featuring Tim Piper, The Fab Faux, "LOVE" by Cirque de Soleil, and Fab Four Mania, just to name a few. By going to these various Beatles shows, I have been able to experience a bit of what a Beatles concert must have been like in the 1960's.
Some of the people whom I have met that are associated with the Beatles include Larry Kane, May Pang, Neil Glaser, Nancy Lee Andrews, and many others. I was blessed to have spent time with Norman "Hurricane" Smith and his family shortly before he passed away. I have corresponded with many of these Beatles friends and have made long-lasting friendships. They have told me some fascinating stories about growing up in the 60's and working with The Beatles. Along with the Fab Four, they have also supported me throughout my life.
I have been corresponding with several authors who have written books about the Beatles including Hal Pollack, a lawyer who wrote a Dr. Seuss-style Beatles parody children's book called Meet the Brittles(which featured music by 1964: The Tribute), Susan Ryan, editor of the Beatles fan fiction website, Rooftop Sessions,and last but certainly not least, the author of the John Lennon novel, Shoulda Been There, Jude Southerland Kessler. I heard about Jude one day and shortly afterwards, my mom and I started corresponding with her. She sent me an autographed copy of Shoulda Been There - along with a Beatles "Hard Day's Night" trading card that she had when she was nine years old.
In March, we had the opportunity to meet twice, first at Beatlefest in New Jersey and then at S.R. Riley's Musical Café (a Beatles restaurant in New Jersey). Each time we met, she read a chapter from her novel and acted out the characters' voices. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met in my entire life. I would highly recommend her book to any Beatles/John Lennon fan!
One of my best friends, Sandi Riley, and her family are now a part of my family. As I mentioned earlier she owns S.R. Riley's Musical Café (a Beatles themed restaurant and museum). During the summer of 2004, when listening to Andre Gardner on WMGK in Philly, my dad heard about S.R. Riley's. My parents decided to surprise me and not tell me where they were taking me. When I arrived I could not believe my eyes . . . Beatles artifacts and collectables everywhere! And an entire menu of Beatle burgers and other Beatle food! We became instant friends with Sandi; she and her family have been an important part of my life ever since.
A couple years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to see Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live in concert at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. This was my first time seeing a real Beatle in person! Ringo smiled, talked, sang, and waved to me throughout the concert! I was singing along with him to every song he performed. It was incredible to hear the music that I had heard on my Beatles albums performed live! I could hear everything clearly - without the crowds of screaming girls as in the 60's! It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life!
After that concert, I never thought I would be able to experience a real live Beatle in concert again, but through prayer, I was fortunate enough to see Ringo AND Paul McCartney at Radio City Music Hall in New York City this past April! It was benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation benefit concert and it was on my 19th birthday! Near the very end of the concert, when Paul came out to perform, I screamed my heart out along with the crowd! He was so energetic and sure knew how to please the audience! He performed a couple of songs which brought back many memories of when I first started listening to the Beatles. The whole show was incredible, but the highlight of that magical night was when Paul introduced "Billy Shears," and Ringo came out on stage to perform "With A Little Help from My Friends" with Paul for the first time in nearly 41 years! Ringo sounded incredible just as he did when I first saw him. It was an event that made my birthday a special one!
The next day, my parents and I went to Strawberry Fields and the Dakota in Central Park. This was my second visit to John and Yoko's home. When I first visited a couple years before, as we were walking along the Dakota, Yoko Ono pulled up in front of the building right next to us and waved. I stood in front of the entrance to the Dakota where John Lennon was murdered in 1980. It was eerie to be in the exact spot where such an awful tragedy had occurred. I brought flowers for John and laid them down on the "Imagine" mosaic while a group of musicians were playing and singing Beatles songs nearby. I felt as if John was with me the whole time I stood in front of the mosaic. Even though he is no longer with us, he truly left a remarkable gift to the world with his music.
Most recently, I saw Paul again in concert at CitiField in New York City. I received the tickets as a gift. I sat right down on the field very close to the stage where Paul was performing. I held up a sign that said, "I Can't Get A Tattoo, But Can I Please Have A Hug?" The inspiration for the sign came to me after hearing about a 19-year-old fan named Audrey McCombs who flew out from California to see Paul's first concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. During the show, she held up a sign that said "Will You Sign My Arm so I Can Get It Tattooed?" Paul eventually saw the sign and invited Audrey up on stage and signed her arm in front of 60,000 people! She had it tattooed the next day. I hoped if Paul saw my sign I would have a chance to hug my favorite Beatle on stage.
Well, I'm not sure if he saw my sign, but he put on a fantastic show! He performed Beatles, Wings, and solo classics, along with songs from his new "Fireman" album, "Electric Arguments." My favorite part of the show was when Paul came out during the second encore and performed "Yesterday" on the acoustic guitar. It was a magical moment as I watched my favorite Beatle perform the very song that made me fall in love with him ten years earlier.here he was, live and in person! It was a night I will always treasure in my heart and will remain with me always!
Throughout my life, the Beatles have shown me that anything is possible and if you believe in yourself, your dreams can come true. I have learned about peace and love through their songs. I believe that the Beatles' music will endure for many, many generations. I hope to meet Paul in person someday and thank him for the huge impact that he, along with John, George, and Ringo, have had on my life. Remember to "give peace a chance" and "all you need is love!" Beatles forever!!
Dave Revels wrote the song for Dara. That's him singing on the video. We met him many years ago when he was performing as the lead in the Coasters. Dave is a songwriter among other things and is one of our dearest friends. We loved his show and met him after. It was one of those instant love affairs. During that very first meeting, Dara, upon hearing that he was a songwriter, told him that he should write a song about her and call it Dara! lol! But guess what, HE DID!! He told us later that as he was traveling back to NY that night, he had the song in his head. He called his wife and told her to write down the words right then. He told us he was so touched and inspired by Dara that the song just came out. He also told us so long ago now (maybe 10 years ago?) that he felt a strong calling to be a part of Dara's life - not just a casual thing but an active part of her life. And part of her life, he has been. He's like family to us. It's wonderful how God has brought all these "relatives" into our lives especially since we lost so many over the years.