Donations from Christmas display benefit Nemours

A family in Florida is decking the halls in the front and back of their home, all to raise money for sick children.

There's a spectacular sight that shines in every way possible at this St. Cloud home off Moore Street --  nearly 75,000 lights, along with a fire pit and s'mores. 

Marty Johnson says he, and seven others, put up the lights every year. While it's festive, he admits, as times it's frustrating.

"Yesterday, the rain. This morning, I woke up...the whole system wasn't working. I didn't work today. I stayed home and worked on the lights all day."

His neighbors even compare Marty to a famous movie character, who's also fixated on putting up a large light display.

"This is the Griswold Christmas!" said neighbor Donna Prather, alluding to Clark Griswold, the fictional character played by Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Johnson, who works as a nurse during the day, said it takes six weeks to put up the lights and three months to take them back down.  He said the greatest gift of all is when he gets to present a check to Nemours Children's Hospital, from all the donations collected at the light display.

"It's amazing when you present something to the hospital. It's a great feeling!" he added.  "I go to sleep knowing I did the right thing."

The dazzling display, at 5119 Moore Street in St. Cloud, will be up till the end of the month.  Lights go out at 10 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on the weekend.