Hong Kong Disneyland revs up its magic to help grant wish to boy recovering from cancer
- Teaming up with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, the theme park put together a racing-themed parade and celebration inspired by the Cars animated films
- Eight-year-old Heison Leong, who battled leukaemia, met his favourite Disney character, Lightning McQueen, as well as Hong Kong racing driver Jonathan Hui
Having battled acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from the age of two, Heison Leong wished to meet the Disney character who inspired him during treatment: Lightning McQueen, the racing-car hero of the Pixar Animation Studios film franchise Cars.
Now eight years old, Leong got to see his wish come true during a special parade and ceremony held recently at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for World Wish Day, in collaboration with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong. The event was attended by more than 400 guests, including children and their families who previously had their own wishes granted.
World Wish Day, which is marked on April 29, celebrates the anniversary of the original wish that led to the founding of Make-A-Wish Foundation, the international charity that works to fulfil the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
Wearing a red Team McQueen racing uniform, Leong, from Macau, was welcomed by spectators waving checkered flags lining the parade route through the Tomorrowland area of Hong Kong Disneyland. He was accompanied by his Disney idol, Lightning McQueen, as well as Jonathan Hui, a Hong Kong racing driver.
“My favourite thing about Lightning McQueen is how he lost in a race in the beginning [of the movie], but he doesn’t give up and slowly wins,” Leong said on stage during the post-parade ceremony. “This experience has given me even more courage to pursue my passion for racing, and to never give up on my dreams.”
As he spoke, Leong held a Lightning McQueen toy car, which has been a precious token that saw him through his two-year stay in hospital, as well as treatments in and out of hospital over the subsequent three years.
