ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Very few people get the chance to travel to the North Pole, but Saturday morning, a special flight took off from Lehigh Valley International Airport to that very destination. On that plane were 15 families who were on Santa’s extra nice list this year.
Amanda Devaney and her son, Samuel were on the flight. “Even from the beginning, getting a boarding pass for the North Pole with my son’s name on it, and then calling his name, and walking him down the red carpet,” she said.
Samuel is battling cancer. “Doing something that we can travel and go on a plane without fearing he’s going to get sick,” said Devaney. “This the first time we’ve done something like this, and it’s crazy, this is amazing!”
Every year a children’s organization is chosen for the magical flight. This year, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley received the honor.
Executive Director, Michelle Zenie-Rounds said, “Even though a lot of these kids are still in treatment, still in chemotherapy, receiving radiation, going for treatment or even if they’re in remission, still dealing with the long-term side effects. This takes their minds off it.”
“It’s almost a feeling of normalcy, even though this is magical in a weird way because for so long, you’re stuck in hospital like,” said Zenie-Rounds.
Once they landed in the North Pole, they got some time with Santa.
Zenie-Rounds said, “It’s just an extra little bit of joy in their lives right now.”