Alpharetta girl experiences magical Disney
weekend
The Magic Kingdom's gates swung open to 14 metro-area
children -- including a seven-year-old Alpharetta girl -- with
chronic and/or terminal illnesses on Feb. 15-19, as Bert's Big
Adventure kicked off its fifth annual voyage to Walt Disney World.
The magic began when the red carpet rolled out
Feb. 15 in Atlanta, where a bon voyage reception preceded a Delta
Air Lines-sponsored flight to Orlando and an unforgettable, all-expenses-paid
weekend for the children and their families.
Emma Kate Calhoun, and her mother, Sarah Calhoun
of Alpharetta, were among those on the trip. The 14 children were
selected from more than 120 applicants, and selection was based
on medical conditions and financial need, among other criteria.
Atlanta radio personality Bert Weiss of All the
Hits Q100.5 (WWWQ-FM) and his wife, Stacey, established Bert's
Big Adventure as a nonprofit organization in 2002. Their mission
is to provide a magical weekend in Walt Disney World for local
children, ages 5 to 12, stricken with a chronic and/or terminal
illness. Parents and siblings are also invited on the trip, creating
an unforgettable vacation that otherwise may not be possible due
to financial strain or other circumstances.
Bert's Big Adventure provides an all-expenses-paid
trip including hotel and travel accomodations -- with air travel
courtey of Delta Air Lines -- meals and park passes to Walt Disney
World for its guests. A medical staff accompanies the group throughout
the weekend to attend to any special needs. (This article originally appeared in the Alpharetta-Roswell
Revue & News on 03/08/2007) |
