With a unified chanting of "3-2-1 blast-off," a Boeing 767 full of 141 excited kids escaped a fog-filled, chilly Calgary morning and landed in sunny L.A.  For triplet Alex Mertens, the whirlwind, one-day adventure with Dreams Take Flight was even more special, given it almost didn't happen.

"She's had lots of surgeries," her sister Katie said, adding all three siblings, including middle sister, Sam, regularly go to Girl Guides and ride horses together. Yesterday, Alex, 10, who has cerebral palsy and was still recovering from recent surgery on her legs, didn't hamper the trio boarding the flight with dozens of children -- and just as many volunteers -- who enjoyed their first trip to Disneyland as part of the annual charity event.

"The doctors said she might not be able to come on the trip but she's ahead of schedule," Katie said. "She's just tough." Sujud El-Rafih, a petite 12-year-old knows she's one of the lucky ones to live the dream. But embracing that give-back-spirit herself, the pre-teen who has had four open-heart surgeries, hasn't forgotten the siblings she left at home when she went on her adventure.

"They said they wanted to come," said El-Rafih. "I want to go on a lot of rides, get all the characters autographs and then I'm going to buy something for my little sister." This marks the 17th annual Dreams Take Flight out of Calgary -- one of eight Canadian cities where the charity takes chronically ill, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children aged seven to 12 away from their day-to-day troubles to a land of fantasy, fun and as many rides as they can handle.

"They forget all about their challenges, the doctors, the nurses, the needles and can just be a kid for the day," said one of the longtime organizers, Lucille Parkinson.

"It's a thrill of a lifetime to see you can make a difference in a child's life."

The day offered an all-access pass to Disneyland's rides and a backstage pass to meet beloved characters such as Minnie Mouse, Mickey and Donald Duck.

Air Canada donates a plane for the day and money raised through the charity covers the other expenses.

This year's adventure, which cost about $160,000, saw Dreams Take Flight partner with the Calgary Stampeders, 'To Put a Stamp on Dreams,' outfitting the group with jerseys and ball caps.

By all accounts, this small but wonderful world away from home proved just ducky.