Sick kids take train ride to 'North Pole'

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The 36th Annual “Flight to the North Pole” hosted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office takes 100 children with terminal illnesses and disabilities and their families connected a magical bid thrust to the ‘North Pole’ to spot Santa.

Five-year-old Bridgett, who has Rett syndrome, her duplicate member Kylo, who besides has peculiar needs, and their siblings accidental the lawsuit gives their household a peculiar Christmas together.

"It's our 3rd twelvemonth coming and it’s ever truthful overmuch fun," said Arthur Philips, their father.

Donations from the assemblage assistance wage for the North Pole acquisition including rides, food, balloon animals, and much than $150 successful acquisition cards for each household to bargain gifts.
Philips says the acquisition helps families connected fixed incomes observe Christmas.

"It's benignant of hard with conscionable maine having my income and my woman having to enactment astatine location due to the fact that (Bridgett) needs 24-hour care. So this gives america an accidental astir years to marque definite that they get something," said Philips.

Families accidental it gives the children a accidental to hide astir the challenges they’re facing for a day, and conscionable bask the emotion and joyousness of the vacation season.