Sometimes in life, and especially in the world of cancer, fate has a way of showing us the unexpected. That’s exactly what happened when Colton, 17, had his Dream of a lifetime at Cedar Point Amusement Park. A roller coaster aficionado, thrill seeker, and incredibly smart and driven young man, Colton wanted a behind-the-scenes tour of one of his favorite amusement parks. He had dreams of becoming a roller coaster engineer one day. But all of that changed when he stepped onto his very first airplane. “It opened up a whole new world for him,” his mother said. But we will circle back to that!  

As soon as they landed in Ohio, they went to Cedar Point, where they were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour and a trip to the top of the coaster Valraven at sunrise. After the tour, they got a special solo ride. “The behind-the-scenes tour was definitely a highlight,” said his mother. “Colton loved it – he was in awe. He loved figuring out the inner workings of all of it.” 

Colton and his family were so touched by the hospitality of the team at Cedar Point. “They could not have been any nicer!” his mother told us. Following their tour, they were treated to breakfast at the Grand Pavilion and were gifted drink, snack, and dinner passes. When they arrived at their hotel that evening, they walked in to find two goodie bags for the boys from their new friends at Cedar Point.  

Colton told us, “It was a very fun experience that allowed me to see the park from a unique perspective that not many other people get to see. The weather was beautiful, the roller coasters were terrific, and I had a fantastic time.” 

“Getting to this experience was the culmination of chemo. We are done. We made it to the other side, and everything is going to be okay. Our trip ended on such a highlight for our entire family,” his mother said, adding, “Those two days were the best ever.”  

However, Colton’s Dream pivoted into something even bigger. “Colton was most enamored by the plane flight!” his mother said, excitedly. “He has decided to make that his career path. And it’s all because of this trip!” 

“Cancer wrecked every plan he had. It messed up everything for him. But now that he’s flying, it has changed him. He’s happy again,” his mother reflected.  

Colton’s goal is to have his Private Pilot License by the end of his senior year – and he is well on his way! He’s already started flight lessons, he studies his 4” thick training manual every chance he gets, used his money from his part-time job to purchase a VR airplane simulator, and practices all the time. “This was a totally unexpected consequence!” his mother said.  

We are also so happy to hear that at his latest doctor’s appointment, Colton’s scan was perfect! Big things are happening for this young man, and we are so excited to see him take off! We are thankful for our partnership with #ChartwayPromiseFoundaiton for helping to fund this Dream.