Four-year-old Los Altos resident Ella Goodwin took a break from hospitals and illness this spring when she visited Disneyland, sponsored by the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The leukemia patient wished to meet Dumbo, so the foundation made her a big pair of Dumbo ears and flew her to Anaheim, where she rode the Dumbo ride and rubbed elbows with a wide cast of Disney creatures and princesses.
Ella’s wish inspired the staff at the ARCO AM/PM service station on San Antonio Road, who raised more than $1,000 for the foundation. Last week, Ella and her mom dropped by the store to thank the staff and admire the blue stars that filled the store, each representing a $1 donation from someone in the community. Nearby merchants and vendors delivering to the store donated for stars, Pratt said, and the staff competed to encourage the most donations.
“It’s healthy competition for a great cause,” Store manager Tracy Pratt said.
Pratt met Ella with a goody bag of treats the staff had put together, including a princess crown and a stuffed dog with an “Ella” VIP name tag. The staff had spelled Ella’s name out in stars, and stars lined the windows and dangled from the ceiling. Ella pulled out her photo album of the Disney trip and walked them through her adventure. She said her favorite event was the medieval banquet and tourney.
Ella’s mom Nichole explained that the 4-year-old had fallen in love with the red and yellow knight who won the competition.
“It was so cute, it was a little crush,” she said. “She wanted to take him home as her second daddy.”
The Make a Wish Foundation, begun 23 years ago, raises money and organizes volunteers to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. For more information, visit www.makewish.org.
