When it is time to make dreams come true, Kelowna residents always give generously.

Papa John害羞草研究所檚 Dreams for Kids Day will be held today in support of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada. The aim is to raise $50,000 to fund the trip of a lifetime for Okanagan kids living with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.

It害羞草研究所檚 a lofty one-day goal, but one that organizers are confident they害羞草研究所檒l meet.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 by far the busiest day of the year 害羞草研究所攊n fact, it害羞草研究所檚 one of the busiest days for Papa John害羞草研究所檚 in North America,害羞草研究所� said Geoff Linquist, the president of the B.C. chain of Papa John害羞草研究所檚 restaurants.

Linquist has been feverishly preparing for the event that sends one hundred per cent of the pizza sale proceeds for the day to Sunshine Dream Programs.

害羞草研究所淲e actually bring some of our team members from the U.S., some from Vancouver and all hands on deck for all our staff in all our local stores,害羞草研究所� Linquist said, adding that he害羞草研究所檚 learned a lot in the three years since they害羞草研究所檝e taken on the event.

害羞草研究所淭he first year we didn害羞草研究所檛 have a goal, we just didn害羞草研究所檛 know what to expect and the community came out and supported it in a big way.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 understandable support, he said. The fundraiser, which was previously held by another restaurant chain, has been going for over 20 years in the Okanagan and it affects everyone involved.

害羞草研究所淟ast year we met the families and the children going to Disneyland for the day at the airport,害羞草研究所� he said, explaining that the event puts smiles on the kids, but also their whole families.

It害羞草研究所檚 an emotional trip for those co-ordinating the event as well.

So much so, that the Orange County Sheriff害羞草研究所檚 department, which escorts the Dream program participants in Disneyland, always sends representatives to the Okanagan for the event. There was one moment when they didn害羞草研究所檛 think they害羞草研究所檇 be participating anymore, but that害羞草研究所檚 when Papa John害羞草研究所檚 stepped in and it害羞草研究所檚 continued on as business as usual.

Nancy Sutherland is the Sunshine Foundation害羞草研究所檚 CEO said Papa John害羞草研究所檚 involvement allowed the charity to complete one program and maintain a community presence.

害羞草研究所淭his also drives a lot of awareness for Sunshine as a self-fund charity and these community initiatives and the funds raised are absolutely essential,害羞草研究所� said Sutherland.

害羞草研究所淭he kids have to be brave and trusting of people to look after them and so do their parents because it害羞草研究所檚 hard to let a very vulnerable child with a lot of complex medical needs out of your sight. But because we have incredible partnerships with physicians and specialists who come on the plane, parents do give us their confidence and trust.害羞草研究所�

Papa John害羞草研究所檚 Pizza locations in Kelowna and West Kelowna will join locations in Kamloops, Penticton and Prince George in participating.

The event gets underway at 10 a.m.