How Cool! Rybacks Spend Week With DJs, Mickey

“All we ask is that you have the time of your life.” That’s what they told us at a preliminary meeting just about a week before we were to take off for an all-expense paid trip to the magical kingdom of Walt Disney World. They are Ace and TJ, the radio personalities of Charlotte’s No. 1 radio program the Ace and TJ show, Kiss 95.1.

In January 2000, Ace and TJ created a nonprofit (501c3 charity) organization called Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids. The name comes from their morning show motto “You Grin, You’re In.”

The mission of Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids is to enhance the lives of children who are terminally ill and chronically handicapped, ages 5 through 12.

Every year, for the last seven years, Grin Kids has been taking as many children as financially possible to Disney World with their parents and siblings.

Through the generous contributions of the listeners and the efforts of countless volunteers, these families receive an all expense paid trip to Disney which includes a round trip airfare on a chartered plane, park passes, resort accommodations, and meal cards, just to name a few.

They even send along a pediatrician and a nurse to handle any medical issues that may arise on the trip (Dr. O’Leary and Jenny Frank). Because of their special need and financial strain, this is an experience that many of the children and families would not be able to know without the help of Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids.

This was an adventure that I will always remember. When we arrived at the Charlotte airport there were helping hands to assist with car seats, luggage, feeding supplies and mobility devices (we are a family of eight). That was a huge help. Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids staff handled everything from checking the bags to any security issues that may have arisen. The festivities actually began at the airport with a major send-off party at the gate hosted by honorary board US Representative Sue Myrick, Sir Purr, McGruff and many more quests and surprises were there as well for all the kids.

When we boarded the chartered 737 we were given more surprises and a dignitary send off with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Department spraying the plane with water.

When we arrived at the Pop Century Resort in Disney our luggage was waiting for us and we were escorted to a private dinner at Disney’s Epcot with special guest stars Mickey, Minnie and Goofey.

It was then that I realized just how magical this trip was going to be, not only for my brother, Nathan, who has a rare neurotransmitter disorder, but for all of the other children who live such a struggling life.

To see the joy on my brother’s face and on the faces of his new friends when Mickey came out for hugs will forever be etched in my memory. What a cool thing, I thought.

The next four days were nothing but fun, excitement and freedom. Freedom to forget just how difficult life can be sometimes.

Each night Diana Ades, volunteer extrodinaire, and her counterpart, Deidre Theyken, would leave gift baskets in the room for each of the children, even me! It was as if each had been selectively designed to fit the child.

These gift baskets came from not only sponsors but from previous Grin Kids. They also included an itinerary for the following day where Ace and TJ, Madden, Ryan and Yankee Pete were to be.

Of course this is something I wanted to be a part of — hanging out with these radio icons. It was great to get to know each of them. They are pretty neat. The rides were exhilarating, the attractions spectacular. All of our fun was caught on film by Andrea Mellen, the photographer on the trip, and posted to the Web site so creatively designed by Shannon Scarborough.

Disney leaves nothing to the imagination. Everything seems so perfectly orchestrated. It is a place where old dreams are conquered and new dreams begin.

Going to Disney World was something I never thought would ever come to fruition. It is difficult to go to these kind of places when you have a sibling who has medical needs like my brother, Nathan, does.

The medication that he is on makes him heat intolerant so this is always difficult to manage. Grin Kids thought of everything. They made arrangement so that we didn’t have to wait on any long lines and that special seating was arranged where ever we went. This made the trip so much more enjoyable.

I am often asked what it is like having a brother that has special needs. I have come to realize that it isn’t better or worse, it is just different.

You grow up where your circle of friends consist more of doctors and therapist than it does peers. But I have had the opportunity to meet some pretty neat, enlightening people who I may not have met if it weren’t for Nathan.

You grow up where you visit more hospitals than amusement parks. Where you may have to set up a breathing treatment or feeding bag before you head out to the movies with your friends. It isn’t better or worse, it is just different.

Grin Kids does not have corporate endorsements and/or underwriting so they rely heavily on listener support. They spend all year fundraising for this spectacular event.

Some of the things they do for fundraising is a 5K/15K race in October, silent auctions, and performance of the band Charity Case.

The application process is from Aug. 1 to July 31 in any given year. To learn more about Grin Kids and what you can do to help or to download an application visit their Web site www.grinkids.org.

This trip was a sensory paradise with all of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes we encountered. The rides and parades were thrilling. It seemed as though all of Nathan’ physical limitations that had so long been restricting were lifted and enabled him to enjoy the attractions. Those sights of joy were certainly life altering and forever etched in my fondest memories of my time with my parents and all of my siblings. I am so grateful to have had this experience that Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids provided us. A time of our lives! Pretty cool.

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