Party at LaGuardia brightens Christmas for children at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center
Dozens of ailing children got the thrill of their lives Saturday when they hopped aboard a “fantasy flight to the North Pole” and were whisked to a Christmas party in a La Guardia airport hangar.
The roughly 50 children from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, some wearing boots and thick winter coats, kicked off their “journey” by walking through airport security with their families.
Then they hopped aboard a US Airways flight decorated with Christmas lights and sang holiday jingles as the plane taxied along the runway with its windows covered.
Some of the children, feeling the rumble of a plane for the first time, were convinced they were flying north despite never actually leaving the ground.
When the plane came to a stop 20 minutes later, the children were met by a costumed Santa and Mrs. Claus.
They were then led into a hangar filled with santa-shaped balloons, giant penguin statues and costumed elves.
“This is amazing,” gushed Phyllis Micelli, whose 8-year-old son Peter is battling leukemia.
Peter and his two brothers showed up wearing snow coats and boots.
“The kids are really excited. They wanted to wear their snow clothes to the North Pole,” said Micelli, of Middle Village.
Peter beamed as he surveyed the carnival games, cotton candy machines and hot dog stands.
“It’s cool,” Peter said. “I get to have hot dogs.”
Massimo Larosa, a 10-year-old Queens boy battling bone cancer, waited eagerly to chat with Santa.
“I want to find out if he’s fake or real, Massimo said.
The annual event, sponsored by US Airways, has been held for the past 30 years.
“It’s probably the most rewarding event we do all year,” said Loretta Bove, station manager for US Airways.
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