FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida Everblades hockey players took flight with patients from the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

The hockey players and 30 children took off around Paige Field Monday afternoon. For some of the kids, it was the first time they were ever in a plane. Many of them are battling serious illnesses, including cancer.

"We get to go up in the air and see the views that we have never seen before," said Bianca Sylfroid, a patient.

"It is fun for us to get out here and spend some time with the kids, go up in the air.  The pilots did a great job, they let us have some fun up there," said Everblades player Pat Nagle.

The children also had their faces painted, ate pizza, and played in a flight simulator.

This is the second year Paragon Flight Training has sponsored the event.