Liftoff for Disneyland !

Over 80 children from B.C. take magical flight!

Kelowna RCMP.

How many excited kids can you fit on a aircraft bound for Disneyland? Just over 80, if you’re organizing the upcoming “Sunshine DreamLift to Disneyland” which departed this morning from Kelowna on December 10th at 7 am.

A handful of Southeast District RCMP members were on hand to help out in getting Sunshine Dreamlift kids on their way to Disneyland early this morning from the Kelowna International Airport. The officers from the Kelowna Detachment were on hand to see the kids off, help load a truck full of luggage and chat with the kids and families participating.

RCMP officers from the following detachments are experiencing the day first hand and are in Orange County ready to receive the 81 children alongside 100 Orange County Sheriffs Officers.

• Kamloops – Cst Marian Oden Kelowna – Supt Bill McKinnon
• Kelowna- Spt Bill McKinnon
• Salmon Arm – Cst Daniel St. Amand
• Penticton – Cst Laura Pettigrew
• Vernon – Gord Molendyk

“Those of us who have the franchise in our communities are out pretty much every year participating at the local Wendy’s on Dreamlift Day, flipping burgers, serving up meals and on lobby duties. It is always a really fun day. I’m out here this morning along with the others to see the smiles on the kids faces, chat with them and just take in the energy from this positive moment. Some of these kids have a pretty tough go health wise, so to see and hear the excitement is something special. There are kids from all over the province on the flight, reaching from Fort St John (Northeast), to Kitchener (Northwest) Cranbrook and Osoyoos for the most Southeastern. All those who support the effort on Dreamlift day by coming in to the restaurants should be very proud of what their contributions do”, stated Cpl Moskaluk.

From an earlier media release by Sunshine BC Interior Chapter:

“This flight is special because all the children participating are challenged by severe physical disabilities and/or life-threatening illnesses. They will be accompanied by volunteers, health care professionals, and Sunshine staff who will be ensuring they have a safe and fun-filled day at the fabled theme park. This will be the sixth DreamLift to Disneyland from the BC Southern Interior.

This trip of a lifetime for such a large group of children is happening 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 from all 9 restaurants plus all of the wages from Wendy’s staff, management and owners are donated to the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, earmarked for DreamLift to Disneyland flights” Steve Tuck President of the Sunshine BC Interior Chapter.

December 10, 2009
Kelowna RCMP