V-Flyer's Chosen Charity : Dreamflight : V-Flyer: The Flyer Resource for Virgin Atlantic and Virgin-Branded Travel Companies

dreamflight Once a year, 192 deserving children from all over the UK, accompanied by a team of medical carers, board a chartered Boeing 747 and head to Florida to spend 10 magical days of fun and excitement. Many children could not undertake such a trip without the support of the army of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non-medical volunteers who care for the children 24 hours a day.

Dreamflight is not just a holiday. The children leave their families behind giving them an opportunity to discover independence, confidence, and a whole new outlook on life. Often for the first time, these children realise that they are not alone, and they are not the odd one out. They see children around them who have also suffered, they gain perspective, and experience things they never thought possible.

Dreamflight children have gone on to amazing achievements. In 2008, 8 of the returning Paralympians from Beijing, many of them medal-winning, had been Dreamflight children citing the trip as a turning point for them.

Dreamflight, which has operated every year since 1987, believe that fun and joy are just as important as medical research and equipment - especially for children who perhaps can't wait long enough for the breakthrough they need or whose illnesses and treatments have brought pain, distress and disruption to their lives.

Dreamflight does something that medicine can't.

"Dreamflight has taught me a lot of things. One is to never let your illness put you down, always look on the bright side of life, and remember there is always someone out there who is worse off than you. I am now more confident in myself. Dreamflight wasn't the place we went, it was the atmosphere and the happiness. I will never forget any of you." - A Dreamflight Child

Dreamflight is a UK based charity that was started by two ex-British Airway employees (now retired), and currently run by just three full time employees, with the sole purpose of raising money for annual trip for seriously ill and disabled children to the theme parks of Orlando. Each year about £700K needs to be raised to rent a 747 and fly 192 kids plus medical staff, and a huge team of helpers to Orlando for 10 days. All the monies raised are through the efforts of a team of volunteers and fundraisers along with some corporate sponsorship.

The cost per child is £3500.

While being a UK based charity a huge team of people in the US work year round to organise the 10 days and make it special for the kids.

Get Involved

Dreamflight is the chosen charity for V-Flyer in 2010, so we'll be raising funds for them at our own social activities throughout the year, and encourage our members to support the charity at events like Bay To Breakers in San Francisco. Below is the story of one V-Flyer (and FlyerTalk) member who is already an active supporter of Dreamflight, and next year takes on the Ironman to raise enough money to send at least one child on this amazing trip of a lifetime.

What I Like About Dreamflight
I know how much pleasure I get from holidays. I am lucky enough to be able to see some great places, and often take them for granted. Five minutes looking at the pictures and videos at dreamflight.org shows you the pleasure each and every child gets from the trip, no matter how much pain they are in. Each personal story and photo is moving.

One of the other main things I love about Dreamflight is the fact that all the monies raised go in to the great work done. With only two-and-a-half full time staff and no huge business costs or executives, all the money donated goes to the kids. I take my hat off to each and every volunteer that helps out. It must be such rewarding experience for them. I know a couple of crew who volunteer every year and on occasion have been selected. They say it is humbling being around the children.

Profile of Christian Teasdel - Raising money for Dreamflight

CT_UK There's nothing remarkable about me, just your average joe but with a desire to raise enough money each year to send a child on a trip of a lifetime.

I am 36 years old, working in IT and generally suffering the excesses of too much travel - i.e. eating, drinking too much and not enough exercise.

In November 2008, while reading a post about Dreamflight and shedding a tear, I thought I can do something for them, and something for myself too, so I signed up for the London Triathlon in August 2009. I created a JustGiving page and wanted to raise £1500. The next few months were spent getting my underactive body ready for the 1500m swim, 40K bike ride and 10k run. In the process I lost 3 Stone (42lbs) and found something I enjoyed. Thanks to the fantastic generosity of the frequent flier community, I managed to raise a little over £3500 - enough for one child to take a trip of a lifetime.

Just as soon as this was over, I was planning for 2010, and realised I needed to do something bigger and better to push myself and get the interest of people to hand over money for a second year during these difficult times. I wanted to do another triathlon so thought I would go for the big one and signed up for an Ironman. While many people have heard of these they donÕt know the distances. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.4 mile (marathon) run. All back to back within a cut of period of 17 hours. I have chosen this event on May 1st.

I am under no illusions, this is going to be a huge task for me but one that I will do and in the process raise money for Dreamflight and help raise the profile of the charity. I am funding the event, transport, hotels etc all myself as it is my "holiday" everything raised will go to them. Again I hope to raise £3500 via www.justgiving.com/ct-uk