Disney Teams up with St. Jude for Virtual “Raya” Week
To celebrate this week’s release of “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Disney Animation Studios united with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to send a bit of Disney magic to the patients and families at the incredible facility.
Studio representatives planned a full week of virtual activities for patients as well as for those at home undergoing treatment in festivities titled, “A Week with Raya and the Last Dragon.”
The movie follows the strong, young Raya on an epic adventure to Kumandra in which Raya must work with a dragon, Sisu, to save the world from Druun, an ancient evil foe.
Like Raya, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital must use teamwork, compassion and trust to successfully “advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment,” the mission of the hospital. Children with life-threatening diseases and childhood cancer often turn to St. Jude for their pioneering, lifesaving work and because of their continued commitment to the goal of founder Danny Thomas: that no family ever receive a bill for their care.
St. Jude Patients Team with “Raya” Animators
This week’s virtual activities offer a wide range of special experiences for participants, including today’s learn-to-draw session with Walt Disney Animation Studios Supervising Animator Brian Menz. St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate joined Menz for the Tuk Tuk sketch lesson.
Yesterday, warrior princess Raya actress Kelly Marie Tran welcomed guests to the event with a video message before a special reading of the Raya story.
On Thursday, former St. Jude patient Tayde, who know works as a fundraiser for the research facility and hospital, will join the festivities to host an art session on Facebook Live.
All St. Jude patients and their families currently receiving treatment received the DVD of the film as well as activity sheets that thematically fit with events all week. To learn more about the event, visit its Facebook page.
Feature Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios