Cowichan Bay鈥檚 Austin Turner and his family are heading to California on Oct. 22 to fulfill his long-standing dream of visiting Disneyland and Super Nintendo World.
Austin suffers from Progressive Neurological Syndrome and was chosen by the Help Fill A Dream Foundation, a charity dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children and families facing life-threatening or critical conditions on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, to help him in his efforts to get to his dream destinations.
Austin and his family were at Duncan鈥檚 Country Grocer on Oct. 4 to celebrate his upcoming trip with representatives from the foundation and the supermarket鈥檚 staff and customers.
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Austin, who is 20, had his trip postponed since 2021 due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the past 14 years, for one month every year, the Country Grocer chain has been fundraising for programs that help families, including assisting the foundation make the dreams of young people with serious medical issues come true.
Austin鈥檚 father Jason said Austin is really looking forward to his trip, accompanied by his stepmother, father, and 12-year old brother Karsen.
鈥淛ust talking about Disney and Mario brings Austin excitement and happiness,鈥� said Jason.
鈥淎s a parent of a child with special needs, it is very difficult to find and plan a vacation suited to our family. Support from Help Fill A Dream is exactly what we need to bring our family together and build lasting memories for all. This Dream trip will allow us to put everyday worries aside and just enjoy each other.鈥�
On the same day at the Country Grocer location in Cedar the foundation also celebrated another youngster from Vancouver Island who will see her dream come true.
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Ava, from Nanaimo, has Type 1 Diabetes and she and her family are also heading to Disneyland.
Craig Cavin, Country Grocer鈥檚 south Island operations manager, said Country Grocer is one big family that loves to support other local families.
鈥淲e are very excited to be part of two Dream Reveals on the same day,鈥� he said.
Craig Smith, executive director Help Fill A Dream, added that the foundation鈥檚 tag line is 鈥渕ake impossible possible鈥� and that is what happens when the community comes together for a celebration like a Dream Reveal.
鈥淲e make children with life-threatening conditions and their families feel seen, feel supported and feel valued,鈥� he said.
鈥淐hildren can believe in their ability to live with or even overcome their illnesses. That is an incredible gift to give a child.鈥�
