To provide a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to walt disney world for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. To qualify for bert's big adventure, children must be between the ages of 5 and 12, live in "the bert show" radio listening area, prove financial need and have never been to walt disney world . Following the annual trip, bert's big adventure provides year-round support through initiatives such as the reunion adventures, the fairy godparent volunteer program and additional charitable services. The trip and programs allow the participants to create lasting bonds with others facing similar challenges as their own, experience activities that otherwise could not have been afforded, and enjoy the time spent together with family as the focus turns from the child's illness to making lasting memories.

Children & Youth , Children & Youth Services

This trip is an annual, five-day, all-expenses-paid trip to walt disney world for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. Each year, we take 12 to 15 families, including all individuals living under the same roof as the child. From the limo rides and chartered flight to the character-filled parties and princess makeovers, the trip is nothing short of magical. Throughout the trip, each family is accompanied by a bert's big adventure liaison, allowing them to get the most out of their once-in-a-lifetime experience. While the true impact is difficult to measure numerically, the words of our bert's big adventure children's parents speak volumes. "the five days we spent with bert's big adventure were the best of my life. It wasn't just a trip but more of a magical journey that will provide a lifetime of warm, loving memories for my family i was humbled at the continued generosity that poured out towards all of the children. I witnessed disabled children dancing and trying to do things they aren't 'supposed' to be able to do. Bert's big adventure just pushes on with perseverance to make these children so happy that they are moved to do the impossible. At the heart of bert's big adventure's success is a purpose to provide these kids something they wouldn't be able to obtain elsewhere this overwhelmed me because the greatest gifts a child can receive are to be heard, to be listened to and to be loved. Too many typical people in our everyday world ignore these kids regularly if by simply not knowing or understanding a better way. "-tara malone, mother of noah, bert's big adventure 2012in 2014, 12 children and their families for a total of 72 persons were taken to disney aboard a chartered airplane for 5 days on a vip all-expense-paid trip. Accommodations, meals, special events, and transportation were at the expense of the foundation. A team of three medical staff were included in the trip (2 doctors and 1 nurse), along with additional support staff that included the bert's big adventure staff members, contracted videographers and photographers, and six volunteer members of the radio staff of the bert show. The atlanta renaissance airport hotel provided overnight accommodations for the families the night prior to the flight out of atlanta. This facility also provided a breakfast banquet in the banquet room for the morning broadcast and send off party pro bono. a child with chronic or terminal illness may stay in the hospital for as long as three months at a time. The fairy godparent volunteer program provides support in the form of volunteers who visit each hospital-bound bert's big adventure child daily to bring fun crafts, a meal, spend time with the parents, provide a shoulder on which to lean, or just conversation. One visit may be focused on the child's needs; another visit might focus on the parents' needs. Desiree gilmore is the mother of abby gilmore, a bert's big adventure child who has spina bifida. Desiree loves this program and it is evident in here quote here: "those girls have cried with me and given me so much comfort. We enjoy their visits so much. Without them. . . Sometimes i don't know if i would have made it through our time at the hospital. We love, love the fairy godparent program. They are a blessing to the kids but they don't know how much of a blessing they are to the parents, as well. " in 2014, bert's big adventure's fairy godparent program served 18 hospitalized children totaling nearly 200 visits. There were 71 active volunteers performing these visits to the bert's big adventure children from all prior walt disney world trips. The expenses included in the cost were for direct small gifts for the children and food for the parents while staying with their children. The balance of expense involved the required uniform shirt, orientation and training for the volunteers. the reunions are outlets for social activity and connection to people who are sharing similar experiences,