Campaigns

Aki was diagnosed with Autism shortly after leaving an intense and traumatizing home situation. Due to his experiences and some of the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, Aki has difficulty expressing and communicating his thoughts, ideas, feelings, and frustrations. This can be frustrating for him because he truly loves to be around people! Though his speech delay functions as a barrier to vocalizing the love that is in his heart, he shows it by his actions daily. Aki befriends the underdog, hugs you when you need it most, and has a smile that lights up the room. Aki is very protective of those that he cares for but especially those that care for him. He is very protective of his two siblings and has lots of hugs for his mom. Aki’s Dream is to go to Florida to visit Disney World and Universal Studios to be happy, enjoy the rides and attractions, and meet all of his favorite characters.

My name is Ryley. When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic. I enjoy video games and hanging out with my friends. Over this last year, I have been able to teach many of my friends, family, and classmates about my illness. My illness causes me to have daily difficulties with extreme highs and lows with my blood sugar. Both are very dangerous and scare my mom. Now that I am a teenager, there are changes, and even those can throw my blood sugar off. I can be perfectly fine one minute and within an hour, be very sick. Being the only kid with diabetes in my school is a blessing as well as a nightmare. I can help teach other kids about diabetes but often get misunderstood by my behavior caused by the lows and highs of my blood sugar. My Dream is to go to the Florida Theme Parks as a family with my mom and brother because this illness has affected not only me but them as well. I think we can all find enjoyment from this since there is so much to offer. Thank you!

Raymond is a young man born with Down syndrome and other medical issues. Raymond’s favorite things to do are to play baseball and be with his family. Raymond loves music and dancing. His dream is to go to the Florida theme parks to visit Walt Disney World. He especially hopes to see some of the characters from Monsters, Inc. Having Down syndrome and many other conditions makes vacations hard for Raymond and his family, both physically and financially. His mom says that Raymond deserves something special with all that he has been through.

Milen was born with spina bifida. Milen loves to laugh with his mom and sister and also really likes going to school to learn new things. His favorite things to do are to build things with Legos and to play on his Math app. Milen has been through a lot of surgeries but says he is a normal kid who loves all the super heroes, especially Batman and Spiderman. Milen wants to be a karate teacher when he grows up. He says, “It is so much fun and anyone can do it, even me!” Milen’s Dream is to go to Florida to visit the theme parks where his favorite heroes live and where there are beaches, pools, and even a Lego hotel. His hope is to meet Batman or Spiderman in person.

Dakoda has fought an uphill battle his entire life, from brain bleeding to eye surgeries and years of speech/physical/occupational health. Dakoda so desperately wants to do the types of things other kids his age are doing. Dakoda is focusing on a trade vocational school studying Electrical. Dakoda has expressed interest in going to Disney World because its something that we haven’t been able to do due to the lack of funding. He has an older sibling and several younger siblings making him almost the oldest. Dakoda is a smart kid who hasn’t let his severe bleeding disorder stand in the way of being an amazing, compassionate, caring, and helpful person. While he has battle joint bleeds and many surgeries, he always seems to keep a smile on his face and doesn’t let it bother him. Being able to go on this trip would help him to actually feel like a kid again. Carefree and in complete wonder and awe.

Connor is a joyful boy who was diagnosed with low-functioning autism at the age of two. He attends countless hours of therapy and classes due to his autism, and even though he is non-verbal, he loves to swim and go to the playground. When he is not doing those things, he is organizing his Disney DVDs. He absolutely loves Disney movies, music, books, and all the characters. He cannot wait to experience his Dream, a trip to Florida to visit the Disney theme parks!