DREAM COME TRUE

Birdsboro boy’s wish to go to Disney World granted by charity

POTTSTOWN » Disney World isn’t the only place where dreams come true, but most people would agree it’s a good place to start.

Talon Cleveland, a 10-year-old boy from Birdsboro who lives with cerebral palsy, found that out recently after he was surprised with a dream trip to the world famous amusement park from the Sunshine Foundation on Saturday.

“He’s been waiting for a while. He’s been on the waiting list,” said Christina Cleveland, Talon’s mother. “He had no idea until today. The surprise is the best part. It’s been his wish for a while and he’s been asking if we can go.”

At Friendly’s, 200 Shoemaker Road, Saturday Talon eagerly accepted a box of amusement park-themed items presented by previous dreamer Cayla Fleming, as he was told he would be taking a trip to Disney World that he had been dreaming of for years. During the December trip, Talon will get to stay in the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and experience parts of the parks including LEGOLAND, Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

The Sunshine Foundation has answered more than 40,000 dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children since the Foundation was established 41 years ago. Founder, Bill Sample, was a Philadelphia Police officer who helped make a dream come true for a child at CHOP and was known as the “cop who

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spread sunshine.”

Talon’s dreamwas granted through the help of the Limerick Township Police Association, who donated the proceeds from their annual golf tournament.

“I run the organization but it’s so nice to be able to actually be a part of seeing a child have their dream answered or being told, like Talon today, that he’s going to Disney World and to know the family is going to enjoy it,” said Kate Sample, president of the Sunshine Foundation. “Plus to have Catherine and Cayla come here and express and share their dream and how much fun they hadwhen they had their dream answered really means a lot. It brings it all together.”

To learn more about the Sunshine Foundation or to request a dream, visit www. sunshinefoundation.org.

MARIAN DENNIS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Talon Cleveland, 10, is told by Sunshine Foundation President Kate Sample, previous dreamer Cayla Fleming and her mother that Talon will be taking a trip to DisneyWorld in December.

MARIAN DENNIS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Talon Cleveland, 10, of Birdsboro is all smiles as he receives a box full of amusement park themed items given to himby Cayla Fleming Saturday at Friendly’s in Pottstown.

MARIAN DENNIS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Talon smiles with his father, Erik, as they are told the good news about Talon’s Disney World wish.