Hong Kong Disneyland revs up its magic to help grant wish to boy recovering from cancer
- Teaming up with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, the theme park put together a racing-themed parade and celebration inspired by the Cars animated films
- Eight-year-old Heison Leong, who battled leukaemia, met his favourite Disney character, Lightning McQueen, as well as Hong Kong racing driver Jonathan Hui
Having battled acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from the age of two, Heison Leong wished to meet the Disney character who inspired him during treatment: Lightning McQueen, the racing-car hero of the Pixar Animation Studios film franchise Cars.
Now eight years old, Leong got to see his wish come true during a special parade and ceremony held recently at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for World Wish Day, in collaboration with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong. The event was attended by more than 400 guests, including children and their families who previously had their own wishes granted.
World Wish Day, which is marked on April 29, celebrates the anniversary of the original wish that led to the founding of Make-A-Wish Foundation, the international charity that works to fulfil the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
Wearing a red Team McQueen racing uniform, Leong, from Macau, was welcomed by spectators waving checkered flags lining the parade route through the Tomorrowland area of Hong Kong Disneyland. He was accompanied by his Disney idol, Lightning McQueen, as well as Jonathan Hui, a Hong Kong racing driver.
“My favourite thing about Lightning McQueen is how he lost in a race in the beginning [of the movie], but he doesn’t give up and slowly wins,” Leong said on stage during the post-parade ceremony. “This experience has given me even more courage to pursue my passion for racing, and to never give up on my dreams.”
As he spoke, Leong held a Lightning McQueen toy car, which has been a precious token that saw him through his two-year stay in hospital, as well as treatments in and out of hospital over the subsequent three years.
A source of strength and hope
For Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, collaborative events with organisations like Hong Kong Disneyland Resort provide support not only to children in need, but also their families.
“Every wish has infinite power and can help children with critical illnesses regain the happiness they deserve in childhood,” said Karlson Wong, a board director for Make-A-Wish Hong Kong. “It also brings hope and strength into their lives and families.”
Leong’s father, Leo Leong, said the event brought good wishes and hopes to his family. “I remember it was a really tough time for Heison during the treatment. He lost his hair and vomited a lot. So when he was being so brave and talked in front of so many people on stage, I was very moved,” he said after the ceremony.
With his leukaemia treatment completed, the boy is now a keen video game racer who vlogs about his daily life and gaming on YouTube.
Inspiring young dreamers
Make-A-Wish Hong Kong reached out to Hui a few weeks before the event, with the hope that he could surprise Heison Leong as a special guest alongside Lightning McQueen. The charity also hoped that Hui’s presence as a real-life racing hero could inspire the other wish children attending the event.
Hui said it was an honour to become part of an extremely meaningful experience. “My passion for cars started around the same time as Heison’s, so I can relate to what this means to him.”
He added: “I hope my achievements can inspire him and others to do the same in whatever they’re passionate about.”
During the World Wish Day event, Hui and Leong quickly bonded by talking about the different types of wheels that are fitted on cars. Hui also shared his journey to becoming a racing driver, and offered Leong some advice about pursuing dreams.
“I believe you need to be patient and persistent. When I was young, I had a dream of competing in major races all over the world – [but] we didn’t even have a racing venue in Hong Kong, so that dream seemed very far away,” Hui told Leong.
“I was 26 years old when I had a chance to compete in my first race. I won a championship in Europe when I was 40 years old. So don’t give up chasing your dream.”
In 2021, Hui became the first Hong Kong racing driver to win the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, driving in the pro-am category.
Hui also talked about how Leong’s battle with leukaemia reminded him of one of the most challenging races he has ever faced: 24 Hours of Spa, a legendary and gruelling endurance race held annually in Belgium, where Hui finished third on the podium last year.
“It reminded me of you, Heison, who is very brave in facing your battles,” Hui said during the post-parade ceremony. “I’d like to dedicate the medal from my race last year to you.”
For the finale of Leong’s wish experience, Hui took the boy on a ride in a Ferrari 296 sports car – the same model that Leong chooses to race with when he is gaming.
“I was excited. I wanted to see the interior of the car, as I have never seen that one in real life before,” Leong said. “I heard it could go really fast.”
Michael Moriarty, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, quoted Lightning McQueen during the ceremony as he summed up the magic of the day.
“At Disney, we celebrate the power of a wish, and hope that everyone is inspired to be limitless in pursuing theirs,” Moriarty said. “And like Lightning McQueen, I hope that all of you race toward your dreams ‘faster than fast, quicker than quick’.”
Crafting a magical experience
For more than 40 years, The Walt Disney Company has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfil more than 155,000 wishes around the world. At Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the employees – known as “cast members” – pride themselves on creating magical and memorable moments for children and their families, in partnership with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong and other international affiliates of the charity.
Throughout the year, a team of ambassadors at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort receives requests from Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, and works to support individual wish-granting experiences. These efforts have included arranging special rides for a child who uses a wheelchair, as well as transforming a girl into Elsa – one of the main characters of Disney Animation’s hit Frozen film franchise – for a day.
For the ambassadors, it is a privilege to help bring these wishes to life. “At Disney, we try to spread magic to other corners of communities,” says Beyan Tse, a lifetime Disney fan-turned-ambassador. “One of our important roles [as an ambassador] is to work with the Make-A-Wish team. We tailor-make an itinerary for the wish child.”
Gisele Abejero, another Hong Kong Disneyland ambassador who had a chance to accompany Leong and his family before the World Wish Day event, said it was inspirational to witness the boy’s joy upon meeting Lightning McQueen.
“Heison has loved Lightning McQueen for a long time, and Lightning McQueen gave him power when he faced his illness,” she added. “So it meant a lot when he met his source of power and happiness.”