Stars for a night

ATHOL - It was almost his turn. In just a few minutes, Kevin Comer would get to ride the rollercoaster called Tremors.

He waved a hand as the cars slowed to a stop from another trip around the tracks.

"That's it Kevin," shouted Chad Wood. "That's the one. That's your favorite."

Comer, sitting in his wheelchair, offered a smile and leaned forward. He was ready.

Wood, from Clarkston, Wash., was Comer's caregiver during "Night of the Stars" at Silverwood Theme Park. For the 24th season, Silverwood offered free admission and meals to anyone with physical or mental disabilities, or anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Each star could bring one guest at no charge.

More than 5,000 packed the park on a sunny, warm Friday evening.

"This is great," Wood said as he and Comer made their way toward the coaster. "We probably wouldn't get to do this any other time of year."

Which is exactly why Silverwood's owners, Gary and Jeanne Norton, host the event year after year, said Nancy DiGiammarco, Silverwood spokeswoman.

Night of the Stars continues to grow, and the reasons were all around - people walking, running and rolling toward more rides like Thunder Canyon, Timber Terror and the Scrambler.

Many were confined to wheelchairs. Some walked slowly only with the help of their caregivers. There were boys and girls with Down syndrome, men and women with cancer. Some could only travel short distances before resting. They all faced their own challenges, but each also had this in common Friday night: Smiles, laughs, and for four hours, just a whole lot of fun and games.

"As you walk through here, you're going to see so many people who are happy, having such a good time," DiGiammarco said. "When I watch them, it's quite touching."

Like when Jacob Jennings of Spokane came off Tremors.

"He liked it. You could tell. He was pretty excited afterward," said his mom, Deisa Jennings. "I don't know if I liked it."

Her son, 12, is confined to a wheelchair, so outings can be a challenge. And normally, with lots of waiting in lines, they wouldn't be able to go to Silverwood. But Night of the Stars makes it easier, with volunteers to help guests in and out of rides, and short waits, too.

"We probably wouldn't come with him on a regular day," Jennings said. "Having someone help you with the lifting, that's real nice."

Lisa Arnold of Spokane walked with son Daniel Arnold, 17, and smiled as they came off the Flying Elephants.

She said it was nice that adults and children with disabilities had a day of their own - together - at Silverwood. They didn't have to worry about being in the way or not fitting in. On Night of the Stars, Daniel was just one of the crowd.

"It's great that Daniel's out," she said. "You see all the kids with disabilities, it's hard to see them all in the same place."

Among the volunteers were Scott and Jennifer Ross of Hayden Lake. They offer to help because they know what it means to the guest stars and their caregivers.

"You see the joy in these kids' and adults' faces that you just don't see every day on the street," Scott said. "We just have never experienced something like this before.

"It's a blessing for us to see the joy in their hearts," he added.

Jennifer nodded in agreement.

"It really makes you realize how blessed you are with your own life when you see these people and the challenges they face," she said. "And they're all still so happy and smiling."

For more information about Night of the Stars, contact Terri Pritchett at (208) 683-3400 Ext. 107 or [email protected].