Ronald McDonald House holds private ‘Star Wars' screening for kids

STANFORD, Calif. (KTVU) - Some VIPs are getting a private screening Friday night of one of the hottest movie tickets around. The kids of the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford and their families will have a whole theater to themselves to watch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

And since many are battling serious illnesses, a regular movie never would have been an option.

The Binghams are "regulars" here at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

"I don't know I've lost count how many times we've come here. We have five children and three of our five have all needed heart transplants," says mother Stacy Bingham.

The 7-year-old is on a wait list now. Needless to say, the family focus is more often on real life than on fantasy.

The only time ‘Star Wars’ crossed their minds was when the characters came to the hospital.

"It's really hard to find the money and time to go on trips like this," says Sierra Bingham, a transplant recipient.

And so when they found out that Google Ventures, now known as GV, had rented out an entire movie theater showing the latest installment of the iconic sci-fi, fantasy film series and that all the Ronald McDonald Families would get the chance to go, they were hard pressed to keep their excitement in check.

"I'm trying to keep it not too over the top," says Hunter Bingham.

"I guess I'm really excited because we'll be going like as a big family," says Lindsey Bingham, also a transplant recipient.

Transportation and concessions will be taken care of, and a few surprises too.

"And then they just bumped it up a notch with storm troopers coming and we're having a red carpet. So the excitement level has even gone beyond we get to go and we get to do this. It's now I get to be a VIP," says CEO of Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, Annette Eros.

For many of the kids here, going to a regular movie just wouldn't be an option.

That's the case for Luis Garcia who is battling a brain tumor, and has a compromised immune system.

"They said I couldn't go because too much germs, I could have gotten sick too quick," says Garcia.

This special screening presented the ‘Star Wars’ fan with an opportunity he didn't think he'd have.

"When I heard they were going to give us a free opportunity to watch the new one, I literally screamed like a little girl. Inside of me I said yeeees I'm going to watch it!" he says.

The families boarded buses at 6 p.m. and heading to the theater in Redwood City for a 7 p.m. show time.