WAILUKU The dream maker needs our help.
Darby Gill, who has been making dreams come true for Maui County children in crisis for the last 16 years, plans to “joggle” (jog and juggle) his age to raise funds for his A Keiki’s Dream program. The executive director and co-founder is reviving a fundraising activity he started at age 27 when he “ran his age,” 27 miles, for a charity. He would hold his “birthday run” or variations of the run-your-age concept for the next 25 years before calling it quits. On June 6, Gill will revive the birthday run to help raise funds for his nonprofit, which is feeling the effects of the severe economic downturn, to keep alive as many dreams as possible. But he’s older he’ll be 61 on June 4, and he’s fought off two bouts with cancer in the past decade. So Gill is asking the public to “Do a Mile & Share a Smile” with him. He’s recruiting 60 other people to collect $100 in pledges to run, walk, jog, joggle, tricycle, skateboard, Heely (skate-shoe) or push strollers with babies for one mile around Keopuolani Park with him. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the new playground in the park, Hui Aloha Playground. Those who want to be among the 60 but cannot or are unable to join Gill that day may designate a former “dream child” to do their mile for them.
The money raised will go to fulfilling keiki dreams, which are for children in crisis – including those who are abused, neglected or homeless or who face major medical problems, personal loss or psychological issues. One hundred children’s dreams became a reality last year, a record for A Keiki’s Dream. Due to budget shortfalls, only 70 dreams have been budgeted this year. That could mean the dream machine – which made its thousandth dream come true last year – will have to stop before year’s end, an unhappy prospect for the dream maker.