Winston Boy Headed on Bert's Big Adventure

“I am excited to go to Disney World to ride all the rides,” Six-year-old Emory Warren, from Winston, said, when he found out he was going on Bert's Big Adenture.

“My favorite Disney character is Phineas from Phineas and Ferb,” he said.

“Everyone in the family is very excited. We are lucky to have the opportunity to take the boys while they are young and can really appreciate the experience,” his mom Deana added.

Bert’s Big Adventure, the Atlanta based non-profit that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families.

After sorting through hundreds of applications with careful consideration, the Bert’s Big Adventure selection committee has picked 13 children with chronic and terminal illnesses to travel to Walt Disney World® this February 21-25, 2013, along with their families. The all-expenses-paid trip marks the organization’s 11th annual adventure and begins with a limo ride to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport. There, Bert’s Big Adventure hosts an early morning live broadcast of “The Bert Show” and a send-off party for the lucky families! Following the broadcast, the kids and their families will then enjoy a private, chartered flight that is kindly donated by ExpressJet, from Atlanta to Orlando. Alongside members of “The Bert Show” and the Bert’s Big Adventure staff, the families will spend five days making a lifetime of memories.

The 2013 Bert’s Big Adventure recipients, along with their families include:

Adam R.                       Age 5                    Anderson, IN                
Elijah R.                       Age 11                    Anderson, IN
Adelyn E.                     Age 5                    Columbia, TN                
Emory W.                    Age 6                    Winston, GA
Alana P.                       Age 8                    Buford, GA                
Jacelyn W.                   Age 6                    Gainesville, GA
Brandon T.                  Age 6                    Smyrna, GA                  
Jenna C.                      Age 5                    Atlanta, GA
Bryson D.                    Age 11                  Acworth, GA                
Pharaoh H.                  Age 8                    Flowery Branch, GA
Callie E.                        Age 6                    Aragon, GA                   
Zach T.                         Age 6                    Newnan, GA
Ziyonn C.                     Age 10                     Atlanta

“This year’s kids are from ‘The Bert Show’ listening areas, including Indianapolis, Nashville and Atlanta,” says the organization’s namesake and host of ‘The Bert Show’, Bert Weiss. “Even though they are miles apart and don’t know each other yet, the one thing they all have in common is they face difficult obstacles every day. It’s our dream to help them leave these challenges behind, make lifelong memories with their families and create togetherness and a network of support for the future.”

The experience for these families goes beyond Cinderella’s castle walls. Upon return, and thanks to years of support from corporate sponsors, fundraisers, and individual members of the Atlanta community, Bert’s Big Adventure can provide their 2013 guests with much more than one adventure. Through a series of family reunions and other events held throughout the year, new and former Bert’s Big Adventure families join together and become part of a larger group who share the same difficulties.

There are always ways to support the initiatives of Bert’s Big Adventure, financially and otherwise. It’s simple to make a monetary donation at www.bertsbigadventure.org/donate, but the nonprofit has also compiled a wish list of both small and large ticket items that are essential to hosting this VIP trip. Donations range from Disney pajamas and iPods to gift cards, and no contribution is too small. To see the full wish list, visit www.bertsbigadventure.org/donate/wish-list.