Fulton student wins trip to Disney World

T.J. Branch
T.J. Branch

Like many kids, T.J. Branch had always dreamed of going to Disney World.

Not long ago, that dream became a reality for the 12-year-old seventh-grader at Fulton Middle School. T.J. and his family won and all-expense-paid trip to Orlando, Fla. where they received passes to visit four different Disney theme parks.

T.J. boarded his first airplane and flew with his mom, stepdad, and two younger brothers to Florida on Nov. 17. The plane ride left a big impression on T.J., who said he remembers being "up above the clouds."

Brandie Tharp, T.J.'s mother, said she owes the trip to her co-workers at Fulton Family Health Associates. Her co-workers each wrote letters to the Kraddick Foundation explaining why T.J. should be one of the 50 children across the U.S. to win. The Kraddick Foundation was founded by nationally-syndicated morning show host, Kidd Kraddick, and is designed to make a difference in the lives of special-medical-needs children.

Tharp explained that her son was diagnosed at age 7 with ataxia-telangiectasia, a disease that affects T.J.'s immune system and his ability to walk.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.