NEW MANCHESTER - A young boy from New Cumberland soon will have his wish granted in the form of a visit to Walt Disney World and the Give Kids the World resort.
Jacob Turner, a fifth-grader at Weir Middle School, and his parents, Rachel and Jeff Turner, will board a plane Tuesday and make their way to Orlando, Fla.
Rachel and Jeff said that Jacob, who is autistic, doesn't fully understand where he soon will be, but that when reminded of the characters he will be meeting, he lights up.
"If you ask him if he wants to see Mickey, he says 'yes,'" said Jeff Turner. "When he sees Mickey in front of him, he'll realize it's not just on TV."
Jacob's parents added that their son has never flown on a plane before and they are a bit worried about his reaction, but said they had been taking multiple steps to ensure a calm experience for their son - buying him gummie worms to chew on and showing him videos of airplanes.
"Now when you ask him if he wants to fly on a plane, he says 'yes,'" said Rachel Turner.
Arriving on Tuesday, the family will be in Florida for a week, which means Jacob will celebrate his 11th birthday on Thursday in the park.
"They have arranged it so on his birthday he'll be having breakfast with Mickey," said Jeff Turner.
Tuner added his family is excited about staying at the Give Kids the World resort saying, "They're all about the kids."
Jacob's wish granters and parents were present at his send-off dinner held Thursday evening at Roma's Pizza in New Manchester. The people responsible for helping to grant Jacob's wish include David Ash and Bob Milby from Chester Veterans of War Post 6450 and Kendel Rutherford and Mary Ann Atwell.
Today is World Wish Day, which celebrates Make-A-Wish granting children's wishes for more than 30 years.
Celebrations to mark World Wish Day will take place all over the United States and the other 47 countries in which it operates.
Every 23 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child with a life-changing medical condition, according to officials.
