The balloons that flew over the Danville area over the weekend are gone, but the memories of one girl’s flight will likely last a lifetime.
Thirteen-year-old Makahla Goodyear of Danville was selected by the Danville AMBUCS to take a ride in a hot air balloon. Makahla is one of many area children with disabilities that the AMBUCS have had in their Challenger League Baseball program this summer. That is where Makahla met Maggie Brown, one of the morning show hosts on WDNL D102 Radio in Danville. Maggie has been helping out during the games.
[Maggie Brown (on left) and Makala Goodyear during their flight.]
And when Makahla learned she was getting to fly she chose her mother, Ronda, and D-102’s Maggie to go along for the ride. ‘’Dad had to stay on the ground,’’ said Ronda. ‘’And then when Lori Lyons (from the Danville AMBUCS) came to see us off, pilot Tony Sandlin asked if Mike (Makahla’s dad) could go too. But Makahla wanted Lori to go, so dad was voted out again,’’ quipped Ronda.
‘’It was a really neat experience going up with her,’’ said Maggie after her radio shift Monday. ‘’I really liked it.’’
[The view during Makahla’s flight. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
Makahla’s mom says her daughter has been involved in the Danville AMBUCS Challenger baseball games since she was five. ‘’She loves it,’’ added Ronda Goodyear. And Ronda added her daughter is also looking forward to going to the Danville AMBUCS up-coming Summer Camp. The AMBUCS are holding two summer camps again this year…one for children with disabilities and another for young adults who have disabilities.
And speaking about her flight, Makahla said she ‘’liked how everything looked like ants – and the ‘shaved’ fields.’’ And the girl who will be an 8th grader at Danville’s North Ridge Middle School this year gave special thanks to hot air balloon pilot Tony Sandlin of Fishers, Indiana. ‘’He did great!!’’
Sandler’s ‘Out of the Blue’ balloon was sponsored by thyssenkrupp in partnership with thyssenkrupp Presta.
[Story posted by News Director Bill Pickett.]
