A Rockwall, TX boy got a splashy honor to celebrate his road to victory against lymphoid leukemia.
Ethan Tate, 8, celebrated Ethan Tate Day at Hawaiian Falls Garland with a special parade and priority access to all the rides.
"I'm having so much fun,” he said.
When Hawaiian Falls heard about Ethan, the park decided he needed a day just to splash around and be a kid.
"He's a survivor, and he has struggled through that, so it's great for us to provide a venue where it's all smiles and him having fun,” said Clint Hill, general manager.
Ethan also wants to help others. For every ticket patrons buy in his name, the park will donate $6 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"There is hope, and our goal is to find a cure for childhood cancer,” Hill said.
Ethan's family has been on a journey of blood transfusions, hospital stays and pills every day since his cancer diagnosis.
"He's doing wonderful, and he's healthy, and there's nothing to fear," said his mother, Katrina Tate. "Everything is going to be fine. It's amazing. If you look at him now and what he looked like two years ago, he looks like a different child. For a long time, we didn't know what normal was anymore and never knew what to expect."
"We remember how fortunate we are here today, enjoying our lives together,” she said.
Tickets for Ethan’s cause can be found at the park’s website at the Coconut Club and entering "Ethan" as the code name. The park will have the fundraiser throughout the summer.
