For 147 children from central and northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, a dream came true when they found out yesterday that they’ll spend a day in Disneyland.
More than 200 volunteers from the community and Dreams Take Flight, a national non-profit organization, made it possible for the kids and 100 volunteers to fly to Los Angeles and spend the day with their favourite Disney characters.
Various sponsors, including Air Canada and the Edmonton International Airport, contributed a total of $150,000 to the cause.
The physically, mentally or socially challenged children have been nominated to attend this event by 25 different social agencies across Northern Alberta.
“What we get to do for these kids is fantastic,” said Jean Marc Belanger, pilot of the Air Canada Boeing 767, which will be leaving Edmonton for L.A. on May 5. “You can see the change in the kids. At first there is a little disbelief and then by the end of the day it’s just magical. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Belanger is volunteering for the fifth year, and said his plane gets bigger every time.
