A Portage la Prairie Grade 7 student, Emerson Hiebert, recently embarked on a whirlwind adventure to Disneyland, thanks to the charitable organization Dreams Take Flight and the support of Variety Manitoba.
Last year, Variety Manitoba had sponsored Emerson for speech therapy and reached out to nominate him for a special trip through Dreams Take Flight. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the nomination didn't make it to the right eyes for the 2023 trip. By July 2024, Susan Hiebert, Emerson's mother, proactively contacted Dreams Take Flight, leading to Emerson's selection for this year's trip.
Dreams Take Flight is a national charity that organizes flights for children facing challenges, sending them to either Disneyland or Disney World. Each chapter, including the Winnipeg one, works tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds, providing an unforgettable experience for over 120 children annually. Air Canada donates the flights, while hotels, food, and the park passes are covered by many generous sponsors and their fundraising efforts.
On the day of the trip October 9, Emerson and his mother Susan arrived at the Winnipeg airport at 3:00 AM, ready for a day packed with excitement. They boarded their flight, arriving at LAX just in time to hop on a coach to Disneyland. Their 24-hour adventure included thrilling rides, delightful snacks, and making new friends along the way.
"I was super excited but also nervous, it was my first time on an airplane"
His favourite part of Disneyland? The exhilarating Space Mountain roller coaster.
"It was a roller coaster in pitch black with stars!"
The trip was packed with activities. Susan, Emerson's mother explained how much walking they did in the 24 hours and that they would have loved to stay longer.
"We probably could have spent more time there. We walked almost 20,000 steps and we were quite tired by the end of it."
As Emerson returned home, he and his mom reflected on their incredible experience together. The mother emphasized the importance of the volunteers, many of whom dedicate years to making these trips possible.
"It takes a lot of work for the volunteers to pull it off every year, and they do amazing things."
Susan added that she is incredibly grateful to the organization and to have had the opportunity to take this trip with Emerson and see all the joy it brings to so many deserving kids. It has inspired her to want to volunteer and give back and hopefully get to go again and help another kid get to experience what Emerson did.
As Emerson settles back into his routine, he carries with him the joy of adventure, new friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.
