The saying ‘let kids be kids’ is the premise of Dreams Take Flight — the children’s charity started by Air Canada employees whose sole purpose is to take groups of children in need for all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland every year.
Eric Carvelli, 11, is one deserving Cochrane kid who was given the opportunity to join more than 130 other Calgary and area kids who took part in the whirlwind one-day journey on Oct. 17.
“Dreams pays for everything — they’ve absolutely spoiled these kids and it’s just amazing how many volunteers they have who make this happen,” remarked Cindy MacKenzie, Eric’s mother, explaining how her son had a stroke in-utero, causing mild-moderate cerebral palsy that has affected his left side, causing him to use a brace to assist in his walking.
Eric’s team leader, Colleen Cooper, has been involved with the Calgary chapter since its first flight in 1993; her husband, Dr. Neil Cooper, a Calgary pediatrician, was asked to help out with the project. The pair have remained on board as active volunteers since then.
The organization is 100 per cent volunteer. The children begin their journeys by arriving at the Calgary airport at 5 a.m. and returning home from their whirlwind day-long voyage at midnight the same day.
“Eric was a wonderful boy,” said Cooper. “Because of Eric’s brace, we encouraged him to ride as much as he wanted in the extra wheelchairs each group has, but he wanted to make sure everyone else had a turn.”
Children eligible to take part in Dreams Take Flight must be 7-12 years old, Canadian citizens and never been to the Happiest Place on Earth before; visit dreamstakeflight.org for more.
