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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-02-01, Page 1212 Signal Star • Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Make a Wish trip leaves Asher Britton with plenty of happy memories Dublin family WWestJet had cut out letters at the check-in counter that recently returns spelled out 'Welcome Asher' from Disney trip with a whole bunch of Dis- ney pictures. Galen Simmons "They got him to stand on Postmedia Network the conveyor belt for the lug- gage and took pictures and When he was first told that stuff," she said. "Ile loved it." Make -a -Wish Southern Not only was the farp,ily Ontario would be sending treated like royalty before him and his entire family to departure, but the family Orlando, Fla. to spend a was upgraded to the Plus week at Disney World, Uni- (first class) seating, Asher versal Studios and a few and his sister Calla were other theme parks, Asher asked to help the flight Britton's number -one prior- attendants serve drinks and ity was to meet Mickey food, and Asher even got to Mouse and have his picture meet the pilot. taken with the Disney icon. The Brittons_ arrived at Yet once Asher, who was their villa in the Give Kids born with a congenital heart the World Resort, a special condition know as CHARGE all-inclusive resort set aside Syndrome, arrived at Dis- for Make -a -Wish kids and ney's Magic Kingdom on the their families from all over first day of his family's vaca- the world, at around 10 p.m. ti n, he quickly realized Dec. 9, and the next day ere were a lot more colour- went to Disney's Magic King- ful characters to get excited dom, which happened to be about than just Mickey. filled to capacity. On Dec. 9, Asher, mom "We were all a little tired... Lisa, dad Jesse, and his sib- it was a little overwhelming... lings Joel, Calla and Mylo, but we saw their daytime w hopped into a limo parked parade and that was awe - outside their Dublin -area some because one of the home and headed to Lon- men working there, we don International Airport, asked him where we should where they would fly to sit to watch the parade and Orlando for a week-long he took us over to the VIP vacation neither Asher or his seating area and sat us on family could have ever these roped -off benches. So dreamed of. all the characters would The excitement started at come by and they were right the airport when the team up close and personal and from Make -a -Wish had signs high fiving Asher and the and banners waiting for kids," Lisa recalled, adding them, Lisa noted, and that Calla got to meet one of Find Your Future! Are you in Grade 12 and still unsure what's next? Don't miss this free. in-depth workshop that explores your interests. values and skills to identify career aspirations, apprenticeship and post -secondary programs that align with your goals. Attend a FREE workshop! Thursday, February 2nd 10:OOam-1:OOpm Pizza Lunch Included Fanshawe College 33 St. David Street, Goderich, ON FANSHAWE FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Sharon Brown S19-4524430 ext. 6545 sbbrown fanshawec.a ►{ease register in advance! Submitted Make -a -Wish Southern Ontario sent Asher Britton (right) and his Dublin -area family to Orlando, Fla. Dec. 9-16, where they stayed at Disney's Give Kids the World Resort and visited Disney World, - Universal Studios and a few other theme parks. Pictured, Asher was granted a private meet and greet with all of his favourite Marvel superheroes at Universal Studios. the child actors from a Dis- with each character was ney show she watches called immediately uploaded Bunk'd. online and was available for As he had hoped, the first t'he Brittons to view and character Asher got to meet download to their phones. was none other than Mickey "Asher didn't like doing himself, but once he discov- family pictures at any given ered how exciting it was point, he onlywanted it to be meeting his idol, Asher him," Lisa laughed. "He made it his mission to meet didn't mind doing family as many characters as possi- pictures with the characters, ble, have them sign their but any time I tried, four dif- autographs in his Disney ferent times over two days, to autograph book, and have get family pictures, none of his picture taken with them. them turned out." 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Interested applicants, send your resume to: Larry Hale, FS PARTNERS Hub Manager 3956 Road 160, Mitchell, ON NOK 1 NO or by email to (hale@fspartners ca wwwfspartners.ca KID'S HELP PHONE FREE EMERGENCY CALL 11.1 I I I'1I TOLL FREE 24 HOURS A DAY RUNAWAY, SICK, IN DANGER, IN TROUBLE and rest up back at their in the face of the evilTrans- villa, but once they were former, the employee sta- feeling a little better, Asher tioned with Megatron went right back to hunting offered to give the Brittons a down his favourite private, behind the scenes characters. tour of Universal Studios the At Disney's MGM Studios, next day, an offer neither Asher was able to meet all of Asher or any of his family his favourite Disney Junior could turn down. characters, he met Goofy "He got a private meet and and many more. greet with all the Marvel Although Asher hadn't super heroes. We were in an really shown that much empty amphitheater and interest in, Star Wars prior to' they all just came out as they his trip, one of the souvenirs were finishing their breaks, he absolutely had to have and they all came in from before leaving MGM Studios different directions. Spider - was a toy lightsaber. man came in from behind The Brittons spent half a the curtains and I thought day at Epcot and another Asher was just going to fall half-day back at Magic King- over. He started imitating dom before they were due to Spiderman. He got to hold head over to Universal Stu- Captain America's shield dios for the next two days so and it was really cool, he just Asher could meet some of loved it," she said. his favourite non -Disney Getting the chance to meet characters. his favourite characters from "The first day we went (to movies and television was a Universal) Asher was able to dream come true for Asher, meet Barney. None of our but the best part of the trip for other kids watched it, but Lisa and Jesse was the amount Barney has always been a • of time and effort the staff at show, when Asher is sick or all of the theme parks and the in the hospital, he watches staff at the Give Kids the Barney, and that's the only World Resort put in to ensure time. When he's sick, he the Brittons could have a watches Barney. So we breakfromthedailyresponsi- watched a Barney Live show bilities associated with raising and every song they sang, I a son with a congenital heart can't explain how happy condition. Asher was," Lisa said. . "It was just such a break, Over the course of his time like it was truly an amazing at Universal, Asher met all of break" Lisa explained. "We his favourite characters, from stayed at Give Kids the Dora the Explorer and Diego, World, they have 150 staff to Gru and the Minions from and over 1,500 volunteers. Despicable Me, and even It's all different houses setup Bumblebee and Megatron for families that stay there from Transformers. from all over the world. So "He went on his Wish Trip any kind of organization that to meet .Mickey Mouse grants awish to a child with because he loves Mickey, but an illness or disease, they go he came home a Transform- there and it's amazing. ers fan," Lisa said. "Bumble- "They had buffets for every bee started playing the dif- meal and they had volunteers ferent clipspf music that he just standing there saying, has and he's like 12 feet tall 'How can I help you?,' or or whatever, their costumes 'What can I carry for you?, or were mega, and Asher just 'What can I get you?,' and goes right up to him, no fear, cleaning up after our messy and he starts dancing with kids - just the little things that him. He played like two bars we do day -in and day -out. of Hammer Time by MC They took care of everything Hammer and Asher turned and just gave us such a break" around and faced and he Although they had to was like, 'Stop, Hammer return home on Dec. 16, time,' and he started dancing Asher and his family now with him. It was the best." have plenty of wonderful Since he wasn't a fan of memories to get them transformers prior to his through the next year and Make -a -Wish trip, Asher beyond. didn't know he was sup- When Asher had to travel posed to be afraid of Mega- to London earlier this month tron, so when he met the evil to have dental surgery, he Decepticon leader, he wasn't afraid at all - he was walked right up to him and actually excited to tell his tapped him on the knees to doctors and nurses all about see what they were made of. his Make -a -Wish trip to Because of Asher's bravery Orlando.