Over 80 children from the B.C. Interior to take
Airport volunteers give back
magical flight! How many excited kids can you fit on a aircraft bound for Disney- land? Just over 80, if you’re organizing the Sunshine DreamLift to Disneyland which departed Kelowna International Airport on December 10 at 7 am.
The 80 children participating in this magical flight represent the BC Interior from as north as Fort St. John, south east to Cranbrook, south to Osoyoos and everywhere in between. They are on this special flight because they are challenged by severe physical disabili- ties and/or life-threatening illnesses. “These kids are facing challenges and the chance to get out of their world for a day is a dream,” said Steve Tuck, president of the Sunshine Foundation’s Interior chapter.
The first time the Sunshine DreamLift left from YLW was in 1994. Since then the flight has occurred six times in total from Kelowna International for the Southern Interior. Nationally, the Sunshine Foundation has successfully organized 46 DreamLifts across Canada, with this event as the 47th.
The children were accompanied by volunteers, health care professionals, and Sunshine staff who ensured they had a safe and fun-filled day at the fabled theme park before returning to Kelowna at midnight. This trip of a lifetime for such a large group of children was made possible thanks to the success of the annual Wendy’s DreamLift Day. Wendy’s DreamLift Day depends on tremendous support from local media, volunteers, RCMP, the BC Interior Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation, Wendy’s staff and customers from the communities of Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Penticton. Wendy’s DreamLift Day is spearheaded by Inland Restaurants Ltd., the franchisee for Wendy’s in each of these communities. The net proceeds of one day’s sales from all nine restaurants plus the wages from Wendy’s staff, management and owners are donated to the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, earmarked for DreamLift to Disneyland flights.
With 72 Airport Ambassadors and 25 Tourism Kelowna representatives there are almost 100 Airport volunteers representing YLW and helping out our airport passengers 365 days of the year. It’s almost impossible to properly thank our volunteers for all they do. At the annual airport volunteer recognition dinner Tourism Kelowna manager Diana Dors presented Noni Marshall with the Airport Tourism Volunteer of the Year Award for her five years of amazing service at the airport and assisting with tourism-related requests. Sam Samaddar and Abby Sones presented Sandra Bedford with the Female Ambassador of the Year award and Ken Dewerson was presented with the Male Ambassador of the Year award for their out- standing customer service at the airport.
After awards were presented and dinner digested, the Ambassadors presented the Sunshine Dream for Kids and the three area foodbanks – Kelowna, Westbank and Lake Country - with cheques from money collected from luggage carts. Since 1994 the Ambassadors have donated over $47,400 which equates to 189,600 carts used and returned.
Sandra Bedford
Noni Marshall
Ken Dewerson
Over 100 Orange County Sheriff’s Department representatives provided ground support and a police escort, as well as helping make the children’s day extraordinary in many ways. Orange County Sheriff Department members have visited our communities in support of the annual Wendy’s DreamLift Day and are always hosted by the local RCMP detachment. This year, the tables were turned as Inland Restaurants sent in advance via Alaska Airlines/ Horizon Air, five Okanagan RCMP members to help the Orange County Sheriff’s Department prepare to host the children.
81 children and another 76 volunteers, medical staff and media arrived by 4:45 a.m. to check in with DreamLift volunteers for their flight to Disneyland.
28 YLW CONNECTION
Adrian Wilkinson from Summerland and PT the Clown show their best early morning smiles.
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