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

Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 a lofty one-day goal, but one that organizers are confident they乌鸦传媒檒l meet.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 by far the busiest day of the year 乌鸦传媒攊n fact, it乌鸦传媒檚 one of the busiest days for Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 in North America,乌鸦传媒� said Geoff Linquist, the president of the B.C. chain of Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淲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,乌鸦传媒� Linquist said, adding that he乌鸦传媒檚 learned a lot in the three years since they乌鸦传媒檝e taken on the event.

乌鸦传媒淭he first year we didn乌鸦传媒檛 have a goal, we just didn乌鸦传媒檛 know what to expect and the community came out and supported it in a big way.乌鸦传媒�

It乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淟ast year we met the families and the children going to Disneyland for the day at the airport,乌鸦传媒� he said, explaining that the event puts smiles on the kids, but also their whole families.

It乌鸦传媒檚 an emotional trip for those co-ordinating the event as well.

So much so, that the Orange County Sheriff乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檛 think they乌鸦传媒檇 be participating anymore, but that乌鸦传媒檚 when Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 stepped in and it乌鸦传媒檚 continued on as business as usual.

Nancy Sutherland is the Sunshine Foundation乌鸦传媒檚 CEO said Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 involvement allowed the charity to complete one program and maintain a community presence.

乌鸦传媒淭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,乌鸦传媒� said Sutherland.

乌鸦传媒淭he kids have to be brave and trusting of people to look after them and so do their parents because it乌鸦传媒檚 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.乌鸦传媒�

Papa John乌鸦传媒檚 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.