North Pole Express brings holiday joy, smiles to sick and disabled kids in Bradenton
For 147 sick or disabled children, some with terminal illnesses, the 36th-annual Flight to the North Pole on Wednesday presented a rare opportunity to smile, to lose themselves in whimsy, and to enjoy a sweet taste of the holidays.
This year, rather than the traditional aviation-themed holiday event, the North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish transported the children via rail to a Christmas village in Willow in southern Hillsborough County.
There, they found Santa and Mrs. Claus, singing, holiday lights, decorated Christmas trees, elves and clowns, food booths, face painting, and more.
“The families send us a wish list and we buy them everything on the list,” said Sidney Ettedgui, a member of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office who serves as president of Flight to the North Pole.
The gifts are distributed when children meet Santa in his workshop.
Altogether, there were about 400 children and family members taking part in the annual celebration. It’s important for parents and healthy siblings to attend the holiday celebration as well to make it a memorable event for all.
Among the mothers taking part Wednesday was Elizabeth Groulx, who attended with two of her teen children who are battling medical issues.
“It has always been something for the kids to look forward to. They are really excited about the train this year,” Groulx said.
Dayna Joiner and her son, Hunter, also took part in Wednesday’s event.
“A lot of events like this were canceled because of the pandemic, but they found a way to make this happen and to put a smile on kids’ faces,” Joiner said.
The Flight To The North Pole was started in 1985 by Eastern Airline flight attendants. Ettedgui has helped spearhead the event for more than 30 years.
“My reward is looking into their faces, to see their smiles, their anticipation,” Ettedgui said.
“We lost several children in the last year, and we have several in the hospital now,” Ettedgui said of the escape and the joy that the Flight to the North Pole brings. “It’s the only thing that matters this time of the year.”
Until the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the event also included a ride on an airliner at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
Two years ago, Feld Entertainment in Ellenton was the host for Flight to the North Pole, and pulled out all the stops to give the children and their families a good time. Last year, because of the pandemic, it was a drive-thru event at Feld.
Next year, the event is scheduled to return to Feld Entertainment.
“They are so generous. Their goal is for everyone to have a good time and forget everything,” Dayna Joiner said.
Help to the families served by Flight to the North Pole, a Manatee County Sheriffs Office charity, extends throughout the year.
The charity has stepped in on occasion to pay for medical bills, wheel chairs, gas, car repairs and electric bills. One time, it even bought a family a mini van, Ettedgui said.
Volunteers from the business community and citizens from Manatee and Sarasota counties provide dollars for gifts, in-kind donations of food, time, gifts, door prizes, entertainment and other services.
For more information about Flight to the North Pole, visit https://www.flighttothenorthpole.org/.
For more information about the Florida Railroad Museum, visit https://www.frrm.org/.
