"I haven't been able to cross into Canada for over 3.5 years. Once those borders opened, it became my mission to get up there for these kids and families before year's end."

Optimus Prime and his owner, Joe Fiduccia, have done some incredible things with the world's only AOE replica across North America. They have spent the better half of 2022 appearing at family-friendly events, raising funds and awareness for various charity organizations, and delivering bully awareness presentations at elementary schools from New York to Texas.

But one area they have not been able to reach in quite some time is Canada.

"The pandemic effectively erased any possibility of visiting our Canadian friends for a very long time," Fiduccia says. "We have not been able to cross the border at all, largely due to the pandemic and the ongoing restrictions that followed."

Joe tells us that when Canada announced they were fully opening the borders at the end of September, it gave him a glimmer of hope to do something special before the year came to an end.

"Even if all I did was drive on the Canadian highways, I know the sight of Optimus Prime would make people smile. In a country that has been through so much, I saw this as an opportunity to bring some joy at a time when families could truly use it."

Fiduccia looked up various events and toy drives in the Ontario region, hoping to find a public event that he could bring Optimus to. Unfortunately, the options were scarce, as very few outdoor events were even taking place that time of year.  So he began researching organizations that grant wishes and do special things for children.

That is when he located Starlight Canada.

For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has been spreading joy to sick kids across the country through a unique blend of hospital to home programs designed for the whole family. Fiduccia decided to contact them.

"Almost immediately they responded with genuine excitement," he says. "They told me about a private event they were hosting on December 18th, and I made arrangements with them to be there for it."

While in town, Fiduccia even coordinated several VIP visits for a few special families whose children were unable to attend the private event.

He tells us: "it was important for me to spread as much joy as I could to as many families as possible. It was a trip that made quite the impact. And one I will never forget."

Check out the following video to see the full experience Fiduccia offered to the Starlight families.