Charity Kangaroos create magical memories with Michelle Heaton in Disneyland Paris
On 7 August 2019, pop star Michelle Heaton joined 21 children from the charity Kangaroos in Disneyland Paris to enjoy their chosen “Memory of a Lifetime”. The visit was part of Kangaroos 25th Anniversary, celebrating 25 years supporting children in the Sussex area.
Michelle Heaton and her family joined the Kangaroos group in Disneyland Paris where they started an unforgettable day meeting Mickey & Minnie Mouse in Walt Disney Studios, followed by practising their cooking skills, producing a Tutti Frutti dish and harnessing their creativity by customising Mickey ears during two workshops.
Their day continued with meeting Donald Duck before soaring high on the Flying Carpets Over Agrabah. The group also experienced The Lion King & Jungle festival, with VIP viewing of the Jungle Book Jive, before exploring many attractions within Disneyland Park, including Small World, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups and Alice’s Labyrinth. The magical day came to a close with a spectacular ending, watching Disney Illuminations – a firework and projection show on the castle.
Michelle commented ‘I was delighted to be asked by Kangaroos to join them on their 25th anniversary celebration at Disneyland Paris, and even better, I got to bring my family with me. To spend time with the children, the Disney VoluntEARS and charity workers that endeavoured to make this experience memorable was humbling and I was honoured to be involved’.
The children, all members of Kangaroos, range in age from 9 to 18. All of them have a learning disability and several of them have additional complex medical needs. The children were accompanied on the trip by a team of Kangaroos highly trained care staff. For many of the children it was their first trip outside the UK and their longest trip away from home without their parents or carers.
Kangaroos was established in 1994 to provide support and fun activities for young people with a learning disability, many of whom have very limited opportunities to enjoy a social life and make friends. The charity decided to celebrate its’ 25th Anniversary by enabling all of its 200+ members to go on a very special trip that they would remember for the rest of their lives. “Over the years many of our young persons have said they would like to go to Disneyland, but we never thought it would happen. The Disneyland team have been just wonderful, and so generous, in helping us realise this dream” said Jenni Herrett, the founder of Kangaroos who still works to raise funds for the charity.
For more information on the work of Kangaroos and its’ 25th Anniversary Campaign go to: https://www.kangaroos.org.uk/