Most folks think about running south to avoid winter.
Not Damon McNamara.
The 9-year-old Port Charlotte, Fla., boy wants nothing more than to be in the middle of a carnival — a snowy, wintry carnival — before he receives extensive treatment for a recently diagnosed brain tumor.
On Thursday, his dream began to come true.
A group that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Florida teamed up with the St. Paul Winter Carnival to fly Damon and his family for a long weekend filled with snow, ice and carnival royalty.
After a three-hour flight from Florida, the family arrived — by limo — at the Crowne Plaza hotel in St. Paul and was immediately greeted by the 2009 St. Paul Winter Carnival Royal Family. More than 20 people, including guards and even a few Vulcans, were waiting to knight Damon.
It was almost too much for the boy, who in shyness pulled down the brim of his baseball cap almost to his chin.
“How are you?” asked the Queen of the Snows, Sarah Schweich. “We want to welcome you. Can I get a big hug?”
Damon, hat still down, stayed next to his grandmother instead.
As the princes and princesses of the Winds gave the boy Winter Carnival buttons, coins and stickers, his brim rose, slightly.
Then King Boreas Rex LXXIII, Chris Schneeman, had Damon place his hand on the ceremonial pillow for the knighting.
“Damon McNamara, with courage and hope, you’ve captured your dream,” he said. “Welcome to St. Paul, where snow reigns supreme.”
By the time the royal family posed for a picture with Damon and his family, the boy was smiling.
Still, he was eager to get outside and throw some snowballs.
“He wants to play in the snow,” said his mom, Kim Martin. The last time he saw the white stuff was when he was 3, on a trip to Pennsylvania. “He doesn’t remember much from then.”
Damon was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November and faces a full slate of surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy.
When given the chance to go on a dream trip, Damon was quick to choose.
Kristin Bedinghaus, a trip coordinator with the Children’s Dream Fund, said her group has sent children to cold-weather destinations before, but mostly to ski resorts out West.
“(Damon) specifically wanted to do a carnival kind of thing,” she said. “And he is just all about snow and carnival. This is perfect for him.”
One other child has made the Winter Carnival a dream destination — in 2003, Tampa, Fla., resident Joshua Slauson, then 6, threw his first snowball, went sledding and rode with the Vulcans during a weeklong stay in St. Paul.
Then-Mayor Randy Kelly declared Jan. 29, 2003, as “Joshua Slauson Day.”
That honor is slated for Damon as well, with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman planning to declare today “Damon McNamara Day.”
Damon also will check out the snow carvings at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights and the ice carvings in Rice Park, and will go sledding at Buck Hill in Burnsville.
On Saturday, he’s set to take a hot air balloon ride, play in the snow with the Vulcans and then ride with Boreas Rex and the rest of the royal family in the Grande Day Parade.
Pioneer Press artist Kirk Lyttle, who designed this year’s Winter Carnival buttons, designed a special one for Damon: The button shows the boy driving the Vulcans’ fire truck, with a couple of the “fire” men hanging off the sides.
Damon and his family will stick around through Sunday, when a sleigh ride will cap their trip.
The Winter Carnival, which began Thursday, runs through Jan. 31.
John Brewer can be reached at 651-228-2093.
Copyright 2010 Pioneer Press.
