Alpharetta girl experiences magical Disney weekend
The Magic Kingdom’s gates swung open to 14 metro-area children — including a seven-year-old Alpharetta girl — with chronic and/or terminal illnesses on Feb. 15-19, as Bert’s Big Adventure kicked off its fifth annual voyage to Walt Disney World.
The magic began when the red carpet rolled out Feb. 15 in Atlanta, where a bon voyage reception preceded a Delta Air Lines-sponsored flight to Orlando and an unforgettable, all-expenses-paid weekend for the children and their families.
Emma Kate Calhoun, and her mother, Sarah Calhoun of Alpharetta, were among those on the trip. The 14 children were selected from more than 120 applicants, and selection was based on medical conditions and financial need, among other criteria.
Atlanta radio personality Bert Weiss of All the Hits Q100.5 (WWWQ-FM) and his wife, Stacey, established Bert’s Big Adventure as a nonprofit organization in 2002. Their mission is to provide a magical weekend in Walt Disney World for local children, ages 5 to 12, stricken with a chronic and/or terminal illness. Parents and siblings are also invited on the trip, creating an unforgettable vacation that otherwise may not be possible due to financial strain or other circumstances.
Bert’s Big Adventure provides an all-expenses-paid trip including hotel and travel accomodations — with air travel courtey of Delta Air Lines — meals and park passes to Walt Disney World for its guests. A medical staff accompanies the group throughout the weekend to attend to any special needs.
(This article originally appeared in the Alpharetta-Roswell Revue & News on 03/08/2007)