Pompano Beach Fl. - “It was awesome!” It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever done,” is how Phillip Starling described his first flight in a light aircraft.

Back on the tarmac after his 40 minute flight, Phillip is excitedly calling family and friends on his cell phone to tell them about his Challenge Air flight that took him high above Fort Lauderdale and along its coast. “The pilot even let me take the controls,” he yells into his phone above the drone of taxing aircraft taking off with another group of young passengers on board.

Phillip was among more than 143 individuals with special needs who took to the skies as part of the 2006 Fort Lauderdale Fly Day organized by Challenge Air. Challenge Air is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide motivational, inspirational, and life-changing experiences to children and youth who are physically and developmentally challenged through aviation. Phillip is one of three Broward Children’s Center residents who took part in the event that saw a nurse accompany each resident for the flight with a volunteer pilot.

“Events like this are exactly the kind of experiences all young people should enjoy regardless of their physical and cognitive challenges,” said Broward Children’s Center CEO, Marjorie Evans. “Our philosophy is that any barrier to a life experience can be swept aside with the right combination of technology, training, and determination, and partners like Challenge Air help us do that.”

The single-engine aircraft that provide the free flights are flown by a volunteer team of 25-30 disabled and able-bodied pilots who donate their time and services to the event. The fly days also include an educational ground school that teaches participants about the forces of flight and how physically challenged pilots fly with specially equipped aircraft.

Broward Children’s Center is conducting a Miles for Smiles charity walk on Saturday, March 11th to fund similar recreational activities for its skilled nursing facility residents and their families. For more information on how to participate or sponsor the event call 954.691.5538 or visit www.bcckids.org.

For more than 30 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, therapeutic and advocacy services to infants, children and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
Phone: 954.410.4410
E-mail: thorb@bcckids.org