Dream come true as teenager is granted his wish to swim with dolphins in Florida
A CO Londonderry teenager swam with dolphins on a dream holiday to America as part of a charity-funded trip for 200 sick and seriously ill children.
Adam Proctor, from Garvagh, was part of group — all nominated by doctors, nurses and careworkers — who spent 10 days in Florida on the annual Dreamflight trip.
The 13-year-old left his family at home while he visited Universal Studios, Disney World and swam with a dolphin during the adventure tour.
“Dreamflight was fantastic — the holiday of a lifetime,” he said.
“I’ve made new friends and done really cool things. I was always feeling excited about coming, and I have learnt that it’s okay to be different because everybody out here is different.”
Almost 200 sick, seriously ill and disadvantaged children from across the UK — some of whom require round-the-clock attention — spent 10 days in Florida.
For many, the trip represented their first time away from home, with volunteer healthcare professionals acting as chaperones.
Adam and the other children got the chance to swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove in Orlando.
Several of the youngsters were carefully lifted from their wheelchairs and into the water, where instructors and carers helped them get close to the mammals, while others overcame acute phobias to take part.
The overall trip cost around £800,000, covering everything from a chartered British Airways jet to 235 hotel rooms, 12 buses and three meals a day for 420 people.
Libbie Smith, a 12-year-old from England who was born
❝ I think it’s the smiles on the children’s faces that makes it worth it for everyone, every year
with holes in her heart, said: “My granddad asked me in September what I wanted to do in the future and I just said: ‘Go to Florida to swim with dolphins’.
“He sadly passed away on October 1, and on October 9, I found out I was going on Dreamflight.
“He used to love dolphins and I feel as though he’s watching over me when I was swimming with them today.
“He’d probably be saying, ‘That’s my little darling’. I think my mum is going to start crying when I tell her but she will tell me that it’s a story to remember, and I will remember this forever.”
The charity is celebrating its 31st year, having been supported by the late Diana Princess of Wales for its maiden flight, while a host of celebrities including golfer Ian Poulter, singer Sir Cliff Richard, and television couple Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have given up their time to help out.
Charity founder Pat Pearce said Dreamflight’s longevity was testament to the support of its legion of supporters and benefactors — with only four employees receiving a salary, and the majority of the work being carried out by volunteers.
The 73-year-old, known as Aunty Pat, said: “I think it’s the smiles on the children’s faces that makes it worth it for everyone, every year.
“Even the bigger boys in the group have come up to me, given me a hug, and said how grateful they are for Dreamflight.
“They have achieved things, done things they wouldn’t have done before, and they are so happy.
“That’s special, for me.” She added: “We had a woman who was on the first Dreamflight in 1987 and she came up to us in the park and she just wanted to say hello.
“It’s that sort of thing that makes it worthwhile.”