DISNEY BOUND
Thomas Cabana is shocked by news he’s going to Disneyland. He is one of six children travelling to Florida as part of the Regina Intersectoral Partnership’s Dreams Take Flight program.
Six elementary school students from around Regina got the surprise of their lives on Wednesday — they’ll soon be on a whirlwind trip to Disneyland.
When Thomas Cabana’s parents told him he had to be at the Regina Public School Board office at 9 a.m., he thought the worst.
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Thomas, 11, is one of more than 100 students who participate in a program offered by The Regina Intersectoral Partnership, also known as TRiP. It is a collaborative-risk intervention initiative that works with kids 11 years old and under who are experiencing some sort of risk or vulnerability.
“They are all great kids,” said Lance Dudar, TRiP co-ordinator. “They are all kids from our community who have had some challenges, but are working hard to overcome those challenges.”
He spoke with Thomas who said he has always talked about going to Disneyland with his parents, but never thought it would ever happen.
Wednesday morning, an elaborate reveal was set up for the six kids selected.
Thomas arrived at the school board office and was taken to a room where he and the other kids were told they were to play a game of jeopardy against TRiP staff for a chance to win a prize.
The students beat the staff and each was presented with a brightly wrapped gift box that they opened simultaneously.
Inside each of the six boxes was a helium-filled balloon with a plane ticket to Florida attached as well as a pair of black Mickey Mouse ears.
Thomas admitted he was taken by surprise and was unsure of what it all meant, but was overjoyed when he realized he was going on a trip.
“It’s always been my dream to go to Disneyland,” he told reporters.
Dudar said being able to tell the kids they were selected brought tears to his eyes.
He wasn’t the only emotional one in the room.
Thomas’s mom Geri cried tears of joy when the announcement was made.
She was so happy for her son who has always talked about wanting to go to Disneyland.
“We can’t afford it, but he talks about it,” said Geri. “I’m just really, really happy for him. When we first found out about it I was shocked.”
She has known about the trip since before Christmas and it has been very difficult for her to keep it a secret, so it was a relief to finally be able to talk to him about it.
Thomas has been involved in the TRiP program for the past two years and Geri said it has been good for him.
Geri said her son loves sports and the TRiP program has allowed him the opportunity to participate in all kinds of sports like hockey and football.
Dreams Take Flight is an Air Canada initiative that provides a free one-day trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland for physically, mentally or socially challenged children. The criteria is the child must never have been there or be financially capable of going.
Both Geri and Thomas don’t know why he was selected, but Dudar said each participant deserved to go.
“The message has always been, ‘You work hard and good things happen.’ That’s the sort of message we have had with these young folks,” said Dudar. “You get picked because you are a great kid. You’re working hard. You’re trying hard.”