Three-year-old Rayan Abidi’s wish of going to Disney World was granted thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the members of Lipscomb social club Pi Delta.
Abidi, his parents and his brother will all be going to the popular Orlando, Fla., destination.
The project was headed by recent Lipscomb graduate Camille Fraser.
Fraser was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13 and also received a trip to Disney World with her family through Make-A-Wish. Fraser said she was excited to see her project help grant Abidi’s wish just as her wish was granted.
“It’s so exciting, and having a similar experience myself just a few years ago made it emotional,” Fraser said. “Getting to see the joy in another family’s eyes and knowing that their one true wish is coming true and getting to share in that is awesome.”
Pi Delta members worked throughout the 2013-14 school year to raise the money needed to fund Abidi’s wish through events like Cocoa and Carols in December, a first for a Lipscomb group. The group raised the goal of $7,500 to fund the trip.
Wednesday, the group led Abidi on a Disney-themed scavenger hunt across campus.
The scavenger hunt began in the Swang Business Center and concluded in Allen Arena’s Hall of Fame Room with the surprise of a trip to Disney World hidden, appropriately, in a treasure chest.
The members of Pi Delta dressed up as various Disney characters to help Abidi find clues at each of the stops in the scavenger hunt.
“My sisters in Pi Delta worked so hard.” Fraiser said. “Seeing the joy that they had as well, and that they were so excited to be a part of this effort, just seeing it all come together was great. We worked so hard to raise these funds, and it has finally happened. It’s a dream come true.”
Make-A-Wish America grants wishes for kids all across the country each year through a four step process. First, the child has to be referred. Then, it is determined whether the child is medically eligible or not.
Once the medical eligibility is decided, the company sends one of their wish teams to help connect with the children and learn their wish. After these steps are met, the wish granters are free to begin making the wish come true.
Middle Tennessee has its own Make-A-Wish chapter, one of many regional chapters in the United States that helps grant the wishes of children in their area.
Nourrdine Abidi, Rayan’s father, expressed his gratitude in the granted wish.
“I appreciate it, and I just want to say thank you so much for everything,” Nourrdine Abidi said. “It was a big, big surprise, and I just want to say thank you so much.”