Children get to have a 'once-in-a-lifetime trip'

After 16 trips to Disneyland, Southland man Kevin Reynolds knows the place by heart, but the trips are so rewarding he goes year after year.

The Koru Care Southland Charitable Trust trip co-ordinator, Mr Reynolds said each year the group took 10 children with terminal illness or permanent disabilities to Disneyland in Los Angeles, and 14 children to Australia.

A lot of the kids were in remission, he said, or affected by cancer, heart problems, kidney problems, or burns.

"It's something that the rewards that we get, just to see these kids ... they've had a hell of a life some of them," he said.

"The reward is just to see these kids experience such a great time."

One girl who had been on a previous trip had been through 33 operations. She was only 12-years-old, he said.

Parents often tell the Southland organisation how much a child's confidence has grown on the trip overseas.

"Some of these kids have never been away from home before. It gives the parents a break too," he said.

Julie Miller said her house was going to be very quiet during the two weeks her son Kaleb Mowday was away.

"He has been counting every day from the day he found out, until the day he was leaving," she said.

One of six children, she said Kaleb was "very full-on" so the peace and quiet would be strange while he was away.

Someone at the hospital suggested she apply for Kaleb to be part of a Koru Care trip, and was told there was a trip to the Gold Coast in March each year, and the September trip to Los Angeles.

"America, my goodness, it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip," she said.

Thirteen-year-old Kaleb said he found out six weeks ago he had been selected for the trip, and was excited about "everything" at Disneyland, but was looking forward to the roller coasters the most.

Each child is assessed by doctors before they are selected to make sure they are fit enough to travel. Medical staff accompany the group on their trip.

Every two years, the group also take children who cannot travel long distances to Auckland.

Koru Care raise funds throughout the year for the trips, and Air New Zealand donate 10 free flights a year.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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