Kids battling illnesses get to be kids at one of Toronto's oldest Christmas parties

Like many kids, Lara Scherzer can't wait to see Santa.

But the seven-year-old isn't like many kids.

That's because at just three-years-old, Scherzer was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.

On Sunday, she and more than 260 other children with special needs, some with terminal illnesses, some living with disabilities and others in remission, had the chance to simply be kids. They were singing carols and joining in all the festivities at the Rotary Club of Toronto's annual Christmas party.

"I think every parent wants their child to be happy and well," Lara's mother, Noura Kevorkian told CBC Toronto. "It's really emotional for me to see her doing well and to see all the other kids."

There was a packed schedule for the children, complete with a snowball fight face-off between kids, a well-stocked craft table to design their very own holiday cards and of course, some quality time with Santa.

It was a precious time for Dorothy Hood, whose nine-year-old son Dominic, has a condition called infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy.

"He's terminal, so as a family we just want to keep involving him in things like this," Hood said.

"Coming here there's no stress. No one is being judged and at the end of the day children like Dominic, they're always singled out. This is where they can be normal."

That feeling was a familiar one for Albina Austin, whose nine-year-old son Nithin, has spent the last two years being treated for a ependymoma, a tumour affecting the brain and nervous system.

"We don't go out much, so this is great," Austin told CBC Toronto. "Sometimes you get depressed. During these few hours we forget everything and just have fun."

Rotary Club of Toronto President Susan Hunter says, that while the tradition has been running 87 years, it's worth it every time.

"We love doing this and to see how much fun they're having and the joy in their eyes," said Hunter.

And this holiday season, Lara's family had even more to be thankful for after some welcome news just days ago.

Lara is now cancer free.