SWEET SOJOURN PATIENTS ENJOY TAKING PICK OF THE CHERRY CROP.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LEONA VALLEY - Antelope Valley Shrine Club members hosted 13 young patients from Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles for a cherry-picking party and barbecue.

The orthopedic and burn patients - some in wheelchairs or on crutches - picked more than 50 pounds of fruit at the Blackburn Cherry Ranch with the help of Antelope Valley Shriners and hospital staff.

``The kids don't think about their disabilities - they just try to do what they can do,'' said Dean Leeds, vice president of the Antelope Valley Shriners Club.

After the cherry picking, the group enjoyed a barbecue dinner provided by the Shriners, McDonald's restaurant at the Antelope Valley Mall and Von's Market in Rancho Vista at Leona Valley Community Church.

Five members of the Shriners club also brought up their go-karts to entertain the children.

``They seemed to enjoy it very much,'' said Leeds, who said the local group usually puts on a show at the hospital once a year.

The idea behind the trip came as Ann Bright, Shriners Hospital director of fiscal and administrative services and a resident of Leona Valley, was discussing cherry picking with her co-workers.

One of the co-workers suggested cherry picking would make a nice outing for the patients. Shriners Hospital treats orthopedic and post-burn patients up to age 18 at no charge and regularly provides outings as part of their rehabilitation.

Bright, who enjoys picking cherries every year with her own family, called the local Shriners group to make arrangements.

Concerned there might not be enough cherries for the children to pick this late in the season, Bright had her own kids, ages 12 and 19, and her father pick cherries on Sunday to supplement what the patients picked.

Fortunately, there were plenty of cherries and Bright sent the cherries her family had picked on Sunday back for the hospital staff to enjoy.

Of the patients, Bright said: ``They had a blast. A lot of the kids are orthopedic patients ... they have at least one artificial limb.''

But despite their condition, she said, ``Our kids are really able to do most of what other kids can do. It was pretty amazing.''

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in AV edition only) Shriner Bill Berlin pushes hospital patient Manuala Ogaz, 18, during a cherry picking outing Friday in Leona Valley.

(2 -- color in AV edition only) Leticia Montano, 14, enjoys fresh cherries she picked Friday with help from Shriner Al Ferrin.

(3 -- 4 -- color in AV edition only) Shriners Hospital patients Caroline Simons, 14, above, and Raymond Freeman, 16, pick cherries Friday.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer