Sometimes, when you do something every day, over and over, it can be easy to take it for granted — even when what you’re doing is for a good cause.
But, when a little boy named Logan with a degenerative spinal issue climbed on board the Holiday Train on Dec. 13, and charged down the aisle of the coach car, eyes as round as Oreo Cookies and a smile to match, it was a good reminder of what this trip is all about.
At each show we announce that we have raised $6.4 million and 2.6 million lbs of food for food banks of North America in communities along our tracks during the Train’s 14-year run. But this program isn’t about the numbers; it’s about the people.
Logan, all three and half feet of him, was able to ride up front in the locomotive with US Road Foreman Mark Clarstrom and enjoy a dream come true, thanks to the CP Holiday Train and the Children’s Wish Foundation.
When Logan returned from his ride in the locomotive he was ecstatic, wrestling with his brothers and telling them how Mark rigged up the seat so he could sit up and see the snowy Minnesota countryside from a different perspective than he may ever get to again. Even more so than Logan, Mark had the biggest smile on board.
As Mark was talking about how great it was to have helped Logan enjoy that experience, the Claytones took the stage car and began belting out Joy To the World for more than 1,000 cheering and dancing fans.
Even though it might have been the 50th time they sang it in the last month, I listened to the words and appreciated the smiling, grateful faces in the crowd with a fresh perspective of my own — and I’m looking forward to each and every one of the next 20 or so shows we’ll be doing in the next four days.
If you’re reading this, and you live along our tracks, make sure you come out! It’s a great reminder of what this time of year is supposed to be all about.
Submitted by Steven Noble
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