‘Flight to the North Pole’ program brings joy to more than 150 kids with terminal illnesses, disabilities


Contained in the headquarters of Feld Leisure in Palmetto, greater than 150 youngsters had the chance to fulfill and obtain presents from Santa. As an alternative of arriving through reindeers and sleigh, Santa arrived using the monster truck “Megaladon.” 

Santa and the monster truck have been a part of the thirty seventh annual Flight To The North Pole program. Sidney Ettedgui runs the Flight To The North Pole Basis and has been there since its inception in 1985. 

Feld Leisure, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace, volunteers from Feld Leisure and Sarasota/Bradenton Airport Fireplace Division helped maintain the occasion. 

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“The aim is to maintain all of the wants of the youngsters and the households and be capable to give them a Christmas that they’ll keep in mind,” Ettedgui stated. 

Over 150 youngsters with terminal sicknesses or disabilities attended the four-hour occasion. Along with Santa, the households acquired lunch, rode a vacation prepare and did arts and crafts.  

“A whole lot of occasions when you’ve a child that has a incapacity, lots of people actually do not know what you are going by,” stated mum or dad Lora Friddle, whose son Dylan has cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. “It is one thing that type of possibly lifts that burden only for a second in time.”

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Ettedgui stated many of the dad and mom take care of their kids all 12 months spherical and simply want a break. She stated the occasion is about bringing pleasure and relaxation to these dad and mom.

Throughout that much-needed break, Friddle loved assembly different households and spending high quality time along with her personal. Her son Dylan was joined by his two brothers and his one-year-old niece. 

“It means quite a bit that the group will pull collectively and do one thing for kids and households,” Friddle stated. 

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