Watch: Sheriff's Deputies Bring Joy To Terminally Ill Children
PALMETTO, FL — The 35th annual Flight to the North Pole had a different look this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that didn’t stop more than 100 terminally ill children from having a special holiday celebration Saturday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the annual winter wonderland was held as a drive-through event at Feld Entertainment in Palmetto.
At the event, 110 pre-selected local families dealing with one or more children who are suffering from life-threatening or special health problems were able to witness a magical world of fantasy from safely inside their vehicles, the sheriff’s office said. Each family entered the large facility and got to see a Monster Jam Truck and Bello Nock, the daredevil clown, while surrounded by holiday decorations and seasonal songs of cheer. The drive-through ended with a visit to Santa’s workshop, where they got to wave at Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and receive their bags fill with presents.
Flight to The North Pole, a Manatee Sheriff’s Charity event, began in 1985 by a group of Eastern Airline flight attendants and has grown ever since. For many years, Sidney Ettedgui, MCSO, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Fire Department and Feld Entertainment have served area families and children, providing help in the form of gas and gift cards, assisting with power bills, buying wheelchairs, building special lifts and more.
This article originally appeared on the Bradenton Patch
