Santa arrived early this year for more than 100 very special children. REDS/Watt-Ahh® Offshore Race Team were honored to participate in the 29th Annual Flight to the North Pole, with its inaugural event dating back to 1985.
It all began when flight attendants and pilots from the former Eastern Airlines wanted to do something special at Christmas for terminally-ill children and their families. Many of these children may not otherwise experience flying in a plane during their lifetimes. The children and their families were escorted, some in their wheelchairs, onto the special express plane to the North Pole to visit Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves. The pilot circled the plane around the airport while the Eastern Airlines volunteers decorated the terminal area into a winter wonderland. The pilot landed and the children were delighted to see Santa at the North Pole and receive wonderful gifts.
Now, due to 911 security concerns, Santa flies to the children on the Manatee Sheriff’s red helicopter and lands with great excitement to join them at their holiday party! In the Sarasota/Bradenton, FL. Area, the event has grown substantially, and the baton was passed many years ago to Sidney Ettedgui, a Director of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, along with the help of the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport Fire Department, the entire Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, local businesses and more than 200 volunteers. Each child and his/her family are invited to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and they receive a huge goodie bag filled with multiple gifts that have been specifically selected for them.
Santa sure knows how to throw a party! Not only were the kids treated with one-on-one face time with the big man himself (a very jolly St. Nick), but were given presents from their personal Christmas lists. There was also live music performed by a children’s choir, bagpipers, carolers, pony and carriage rides, the REDS super boat on display along with the Sheriff’s boat and a plane, face painting, clowns, live animals, crafts, and lots of fun foods.
We smiled at the wide-eyed wonder on the faces of the children who visited us to view the super boat. We were also visited boat-side by local celebrities, Nik Wallenda and Miss Junior Florida who were there to support Flight to the North Pole and take pictures with their young fans.
With that, we’d like to send a special shout out to thank REDS Team Crew Gary Seaboyer, Eddie Tamberino, and Dennis Bilodeau for helping Rob Gourley get the Myakka dust off the boat and re-install the stern engine in time to display the REDS super boat for the kids! Also, we appreciate the volunteer elves, Danielle Palli, Leland and Pat Bennett and those from Macy’s, who helped the children up and down the stairs of the platform so they can look inside the cockpit where the team sit during the offshore races. Our Watt-Ahh® drivers, Steve Browne and Steve Lennon, rearranged their delivery route and came by after the party festivities to load up the heavy wooden platform into the Sprinter van. It takes many on-scene elves as well as behind-the-scenes volunteers to help Santa!
See more of our photos from the day’s events on our Facebook Page.
Read more about this wonderful event in an article by reporter, Richard Dymond of the Bradenton Herald. (Note: Click on the second photo from left – it has an arrow symbol over it – for a great video snapshot of the day.)