Telethon raises $99,000 for kids
Kim Bell, Dream Come True telethon co-host, interviews Scott Antrim about the Becky’s Drive-In annual car show, which raised $21,730, during Sunday night’s telethon at Penn’s Peak. The Becky’s fundraiser was the largest for Dream Come True in the past year. Also pictured are Tiffany Antrim and Austin Kroboth.
Madison Brown, center, talks about her trip to Walt Disney World, which she received through the Blue Ridge chapter of Dream Come True, during Sunday night’s telethon at Penn’s Peak. Also pictured are Kim Bell, left, telethon co-host; and Katie Romig, Madison’s mother. Scan this photo with the Prindeo app for a video. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
Dream Come True dream recipient Emily Gonzales performs a song during Sunday’s telethon at Penn’s Peak.
The Large Flower Heads performs during the Dream Come True telethon Sunday night at Penn’s Peak.
The Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True raised $99,076 during its annual telethon held Sunday night at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe.
Hosted by George Roberts, Dr. Ed Miller, Nick Hawkey and Kim Bell, the four-hour event featured check presentations, entertainment and appearances from dream recipients.
Madison Brown, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia not long after she was born, had received a trip to Walt Disney World.
“It’s really been a blessing because the trip was a time when Madison could forget about all of the rough times during the treatment and just focus on being a kid and having fun,” said Katie Romig, Madison’s mother.
Madison’s favorite part of the trip was seeing Tinker Bell at Cinderella’s castle and eating ice cream at 8 a.m. at the Give Kids The World Village.
According to Romig, Madison is doing well having been off treatment now for three years.
“She goes back for blood work every three months to make sure everything is OK,” Romig said.
Dalton Fredericks will have his Walt Disney World dream fulfilled next year.
“It’ll be very exciting to be doing something that doesn’t involve a doctor or going to a hospital,” his mother Megan said at the telethon. “My parents are his heroes and they’re very excited to see how he reacts to the characters.”
Emily Gonzales, who will be leaving for Walt Disney World this week to fulfill her dream, performed at Sunday’s telethon, signing “The Climb.”
“I’m very excited because this will be my first time on a plane and in Florida,” she said. “I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2015 and I have a few more treatments left to go.”
Check presentations rolled in throughout the evening.
The Becky’s Drive-In annual car show raised the most money, $21,730, for Dream Come True.
“In the 28-plus years we have been doing this, this is the largest amount of money we’ve been able to contribute to Dream Come True,” said Tiffany Antrim. “The community really came out and supported the event and it was a wonderful year.”
The Hunter Wolfe Memorial Golf Tournament raised $17,142. Tony Wolfe’s son, Hunter, was just shy of his 13th birthday when he passed away from leukemia.
The Walnutport Borough Playground Association hosted another baseball versus softball event and raised $6,000.
Wayne Halliday and the United Dream Ride committee presented a check for $15,797.
Another motorcycle ride, the Al Warner Memorial Ride in Bath, brought in $11,221 and the Bath 5K raised $300.
Dream Come True’s sausage stand at the Palmerton Community Festival raised $7,351 while the Christmas in the Park stand raised $470. A Tupperware bingo event raised $2,983.
Among the other check presentations throughout the night were the Bill Teel Memorial ($1,616), Breakfast With Santa ($121), LV Hogs ($300), the Pencor Golf Tournament ($700) and prom dress sale ($365).
The 2017 Dream Maker Award recipients are Hager Furniture, Blue Ridge Winery, Pocono Raceway, Susanne DeAngelo, Amey’s Garage, Lehigh Elementary School fifth-grade students and Scoopendorf’s Ice Cream.
