Dreams Take Flight is a national volunteer charitable organization dedicated to providing the trip of a lifetime to medically, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children. With the aid of Air Canada, other national and local organizations and businesses, money is raised to make the dream a reality in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. Every year one flight departs each of the above locations for a day of magic at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
These trips change the life of a child overnight, I’ve seen it first hand. About 10 years ago my step-daughter was one of the children chosen to take part. I was there with the other parents at the Ottawa Airport nervously dropping their young children off early in the morning and I was also there when the flight landed again. The children that got off the plane had been transformed, they were no longer the quiet, reserved children that flew out less than a day earlier. These kids had spark, almost like something magical had happened to them…and maybe it had.
The thing with these flights is that they cost money, a lot of money. Dreams Take Flight has many partners and sponsors, including Air Canada who donates the aircraft and staff, but fuel costs aren’t getting any lower and there are other costs involved as well so every penny helps. Last year River Town Saints’ Chris Labelle joined the Ottawa flight to Orlando, he too felt the magic and on the flight home had an idea…what if the River Town Saints held a benefit concert to raise money for future trips?
Country Dreams Poster
Fast forward about 6 months and it’s happening. On May 3, 2018 at Hooley’s Pub in Ottawa the River Town Saints, joined by Byran Snider will give a special performance with all proceeds going to Dreams Take Flight Ottawa. Tickets for this special event are $50 and are onsale now: yow.dreamstakeflight.ca, even if you are unable to attend on May 3 you can still make a donation on that page. A little bit goes a long way!
The money raised will be used to pay for ALL the expenses for the children. This includes fuel for the aircraft, admission to the park, spending money, souvenirs, gifts and clothing to identify the children and their escorts. We are grateful to our wonderful sponsors that donate services and products to our charity.
By the end of this year, Dreams Take Flight will have taken over 20,000 children to the happiest place on earth – Disney. There, they experience the wonder of friendship and magic. Our goal is to help them forget their troubles for one incredible day and to provide them with a lifetime of memories.
