NEW GLASGOW - Eight-year-old David Higgins won't have to wait much longer for a wish to come true.
The New Glasgow resident will be heading to Disney World in Florida in December with his mother and aunt compliments of the Children's Wish Foundation.
"I contacted Children's Wish and within a month they told us his wish had been granted," said his mother Joye. She said her son Higgins is looking forward to meeting Buzz Lightyear and seeing Mickey's Christmas Parade.
Higgins was one of three wish children attending the Pictou County chapter Children's Wish parade Saturday in New Glasgow. Festivities took place at the Glasgow Pub afterwards which included prize draws and entertainment. All of the money raised goes to the provincial chapter of Children's Wish.
Children's Wish is a national non-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling a favourite wish for children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Since its inception, Children's Wish has granted more than 17,000 wishes for children and their families and fulfills approximately 900 wishes annually – granting nearly three wishes everyday – each being an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of that particular child.
Carol Stewart, chair of the Pictou County chapter, said about a 100 people registered to be part of Saturday's event which is down a bit in numbers from other years. She said the chapter is grateful to everyone that turned out, especially the wish children like Higgins and Daniel Arsenault who had his wish to go to Disney World granted four years ago.
Tracy Hermillon of New Glasgow, who is now an adult, was the third wish child in attendance and was celebrating a special anniversary this past weekend.
"I had my wish filled 20 years ago," she said. "I went to Disney World and I still remember the trip. I have doing the wish parade for the past 19 years."
Hermillion, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the late 1980s, said she also looking forward to celebrating a new milestone next June.
"I will be 24 years in remission," she said.
