A whole new experience
Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 18/01) - Six youths from Yellowknife joined more than 100 others at the Edmonton International Airport at 6:00 a.m. May 9 to embark on an unforgettable journey to Disneyland for the day.
Dreams Take Flight selected 114 youths from various schools and organizations like Big Brothers/Sisters, and burn rehabilitation units in Alberta and the NWT to allow them the visit to the magic kingdom.
"Something like this gives a child a chance to push back that horizon of gloom whatever the circumstances," said project director Tom Hutchinson.
The youths from Yellowknife were named Tyler, Kurt, Jesse, Elizabeth, Brianna, and Joshua.
The children had to be between the ages of six and 12 and meet the government criteria of coming from an physically or emotionally challenged environment.
"This is a special day just for them. It lets them really be a child for a day," said Hutchison.
First Air flew the kids from Yellowknife to Edmonton in a 737 jet and when they hooked up to the main group they all boarded an Air Canada 767 and were off to fulfill a wish common to all children.
There were three chaperons for every group of six of the 112 excited youngsters. Most of the volunteers were Air Canada employees, including the 10 crew members on the flight.
"Most were wide eyed over 12 lanes of traffic on the highway, and awestruck almost beyond comprehension at Disneyland," said chaperon Don Hutchinson.
"It only took them 10 seconds or so to adjust and start having some fun though. It was a beautiful sunny day,
one everyone involved in will remember," he added.
By the time the clock struck midnight the worn-out children were well on their way back home, where they likely fell asleep smiling.
