Free to Be Me gives young cancer patients fun time in the sky

GREENVILLE, N.C (WNCT) — Free to Be Me partnered with Riley’s Army to give children with cancer and their families an opportunity to connect with each other outside of a hospital setting.

The event, held at Pitt-Greenville Airport, aimed to give the families memories that will last a lifetime. Mike Roberson, the founder of Free to Be Me, along with his team flew patients and their families in planes and gave them a view of Pitt County from the sky.

Along with high-flying activities, other volunteers supported the event and offered services like face painting, photo booth pictures and more. As a pilot, Roberson says the event all started after a flight of his own.

“2012, I was out flying one day, and I looked down at the hospital and I had an idea to carry kids flying,” he said.

“I didn’t think anything else of it until two nights later. I woke up from a dead sleep, it’s 2 in the morning. I hear a voice say ‘Carry kids flying.’ So, I listened and obeyed, and we’ve been going ever since. This is our 12th year doing free to be me.”

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Help out or donate: Riley’s Army | Free to Be Me

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