A five-year-old boy’s dream to go to Disneyland Paris has come true after the community in Bodmin pulled together to raise money for the trip.
Five-year-old Archie Howard from Bodmin lives with Pompe disease. This progressive genetic condition means his body is not producing enough protein needed to break down sugars, which has resulted in Archie’s lower body being immobile. Local hairdresser, community volunteer, and leader of the Belt it Out Bodmin choir, Sarah Reid, met Archie’s father, Jack, in her days as a teacher.
“After lockdown, I wanted to go into teaching, and Jack was one of my students at St Austell College. I knew he had a child with high needs.” Sarah told Bodmin Life. “Archie has a dream to go to Disneyland Paris. I thought, ‘I’ll get him there!’.”
Rallying around her clients at Nova Hair and Beauty, the singers of Belt it Out Bodmin, and the rest of the community, Sarah came up with a fundraising campaign to send Archie to Disneyland to meet all his favourite characters and heroes, including Spiderman. She planned a series of events, including
an evening of musical entertainment with Belt it Out Bodmin at The Beat, a ‘Wedding Dresses and Wellies’ sponsored walk, quiz nights, and much more - and the community stepped up to the plate.
“It’s been a huge success,” Sarah said. “We’ve held two events, which have been amazing. The
first was a Wedding Dresses and Wellies walk; 20 of us walked seven and a half miles from Rhubarb
and Bloom in Wadebridge to No.4 in Bodmin, wearing our wedding dresses and wellies, which raised around £1,200. We also recently held a music event at The Beat, where the choir and some amazing local bands performed. A gentleman came in and handed us £1,200, and overall we raised £2,700 that night.”
Sarah aimed to raise £5,500 to make Archie’s Disneyland dream come true, which has been achieved in
under six months thanks to the dedication and generosity of the community. The next step is to get Archie’s trip booked for next year, using a specialist travel company to get him there safe
and sound.
Sarah said: “It just breaks my heart; I’ve got an 18-year-old son and I couldn’t even think about not watching him grow up. You do everything you can to make your children’s lives special. I’m so glad Jack and Archie will have that experience and memory of going to Disneyland together.
“Jack works really hard and he’s always thinking of others; I just wanted to be able to give him and his son the opportunity to enjoy a special time together.
“A massive thank you to everyone who supported us. I couldn’t have done it on my own, I needed all the help I could get! The lovely knitting group in the Old Library has donated loads of money and prizes; all my clients at the salon, the choir, family and friends who have done what they can; my husband who has been an incredible support to me; and all the local businesses who have sponsored us, including St Austell Brewery, Sharp’s Brewery, Nova Hair and Danielle at Rhubarb and Bloom. It’s been the community that has rallied around and everyone has been really supportive. I’m overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that wanted to turn up to the events and donate what they can.”
Sarah describes Archie as a child with an ‘absolutely gorgeous spirit’. Thanks to the people of Bodmin, Archie and his dad will be able to enjoy a special time together in a place where wishes always come true.
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