Volunteers with the Big Island A Dream Come True (ADCT) project will celebrate the cancer remission of one of their young stars — Jesse Albrechtson — by giving away free ice cream from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (or until the ice cream is gone) on Saturday, Sept. 13, at KTA Puainako. The public is invited.
Volunteers with the Big Island A Dream Come True (ADCT) project will celebrate the cancer remission of one of their young stars — Jesse Albrechtson — by giving away free ice cream from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (or until the ice cream is gone) on Saturday, Sept. 13, at KTA Puainako. The public is invited.
“Any Big Island seriously ill keiki between the ages of 4 and 17 is eligible for ADCT award. We encourage Big Islanders to apply and make a difference in a child’s life and give them hope,” said Gail Kimura, coordinator of ADCT. “ADCT would like to help more children realize their dreams. Therefore, ADCT is opening up the qualification for the keiki from terminally ill to seriously ill (children with a critical medical condition).”
Contact ADCT through e-mail at adctbigisland@gmail.com, or by calling Kimura at (808) 217-0413.
Albrechtson was 3 years old, more than a decade ago when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). For over two years he underwent aggressive medical treatments at Kapiolani Medical Center, went into remission and remained cancer free for over five years.
“Unfortunately, in January 2012, when Jesse was 11, the cancer returned. Again, he had to undergo aggressive medical treatments at Kapiolani Medical Center, only this time, his condition was worse than before,” Kimura said. “Jesse was given a 60-65 percent chance of recovery.
“So his family turned to A Dream Come True in April 2013 in the hope of lifting Jesse’s spirit.”
ADCT was started by Hawaii County Fire Department personnel Nelson Tsuji and Lawrence Balberde in 1985.
“Their vision was to create a nonprofit organization run by Fire Department employees to grant our Big Island’s terminally ill children their dream,” Kimura said.
For 14 years, ADCT actively fund-raised through “All You Can Eat Ice Cream Parties” at KTA, golf tournaments, auctions, club events and more. Major corporations like KTA Super Stores, Pint Size Corporation, THY &Associates and dozens of other businesses all joined forces to help support ADCT.
“During this span of time, ADCT granted over 67 Big Island children their dreams,” she said.
In 2004, due to the retirement of individuals who were the driving force for this organization, fund raising ceased. But granting of dreams to a handful of Big Island children continued through the efforts of Carl Hiraki, who was serving as treasurer, Eric Kunitomo, who is an advisor from West Hawaii and President Lloyd Narimatsu.
In 2013, ADCT, through the efforts of Narimatsu, by then the pastor of Heritage Christian Fellowship (HCF), and support from Hawaii County Fire Chief Darren Rosario, key East and West Hawaii retired fire personnel, and the congregation of HCF, it was fully revived.
“One of our applicants was Jesse. When ADCT interviewed Jesse, although a bit pale and frail, Jesse’s eyes lit up and he smiled as he talked with passion about his favorite basketball team, the Miami Heat. With a great big smile, he voiced that it had always been his dream to see the Heat play in person. He also added he had never been to Disneyland and would like to visit Disneyworld,” Kimura said.
“Following the interview, the Board unanimously approved his application and on June 12, 2013, ADCT was able to send Jesse, his parents and his brother to Florida. Jesse was not only able to see his beloved Miami Heat play in the NBA finals but was also able to visit Disneyworld. Two awesome dreams came true for Jesse.
“But the best dream of all was when Jesse completed his medical treatments recently and his family told ADCT he is now in remission,” Kimura said.
“We invite the public to come down, meet Jesse and help celebrate Jesse’s victory,” she said. “ADCT would also like to thank KTA Super Stores, Pint Size Corporation and HOPACO for their generous donations in making this celebration possible.”