Pickering lad soars at WindReach's anniversary celebration
Jun 24, 2009 - 04:30 AM
By Stefanie Swinson
ASHBURN -- Curtis Fladby shouted words of encouragement to the crew inflating the hot-air balloon at WindReach Farm's 20th anniversary celebration.
"Keep blowing," he yelled to the pilot. "Don't give up! Keep trying!"
Curtis, 12, who has cerebral palsy, was the first person that day to get a ride in Serena's Song, the world's first wheelchair-accessible hot-air balloon.
The balloon, created in 1985, was named after Serena Waldman, now 23, who suffered complications at birth. Her father, Gary, was on hand for Curtis' first flight and said he knew he'd love every minute of it just like his daughter did.
"Serena had been very much emotionless all of her short life," said Mr. Waldman. "What amazed me so much was, as the balloon lifted from the ground, Serena elicited her first smiles and her first laughter."
After waiting patiently for his turn to come, Curtis got his ride in Serena's Song.
"We're going to do this, Curtis," said Mr. Waldman to the Pickering boy.
Curtis had his mom by his side and held on to his hat as the balloon began to rise into the sky.
"I'm hanging on tight," he said with a big smile.
His flight didn't last too long, maybe five minutes, but that smile lasted a lot longer.
When asked about his adventure into the clouds, Curtis said: "It was good."
The boy, who had plenty to say before his journey, seemed to be almost speechless afterward, but his smile said it all.
WindReach Farm is a facility near Port Perry aimed at enriching the lives of people of all ages with different abilities and/or special needs.
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