Make-A-Wish team surprises local boy
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — VIP Tires & Service of Presque Isle recently held a friendly competition to raise funds for Make-A-Wish, which came to fruition during the company’s June 6, 2015 grand opening in Presque Isle. But in a surprise twist, a young man from Washburn, invited to throw the first dunking pitch, had no idea his own wish was to be granted that day.
The contest began earlier in the spring, when giving stations were set up at the Aroostook Centre Mall pitting Tony Boucher, VIP general manager, and Eric Miranda, manager, in a competition for donations. Life-sized cardboard cutouts of the men stood by collection tanks, and whoever received the most money would get the chance to be dunked at the grand opening.
Reed, 12, whose brain tumor is currently in remission, had won the chance to throw out the first pitch to plunge personnel under water, but unbeknownst to him, an entire team was working behind the scenes with Make-A-Wish to not only grant his wish, but give him a birthday party to remember.
Sonya Purington, marketing and communications director for Make-A-Wish Maine, said the VIP event raised $400 for the organization; however, the company granted Reed’s wish with a previous effort. “Reed’s wish was paid for by VIP with another fundraiser in December, where they sold paper stars at all of their locations. Those funds granted Reed’s wish,” she said.
Purington said Reed knew he was the guest of honor at the grand opening festivities, but had no idea what was in store for him later. “He didn’t know he would get his wish,” she explained. “He was whisked away in a limo, to an area middle school where he had a birthday party and got his wish: an Alienware computer, which is really popular with gamers.”
Working hand-in-hand with VIP was Steve Boddy of Virtual Managed Solutions in Caribou, who pulled together the technical expertise to turn the party room into a gamer’s paradise.
“There were several computers, and several of his friends were there waiting and surprised him,” Purington added. “They all got to play computer games projected on a huge screen.”
Wish-granter Marilyn Carey was among those at the event, and reported that thanks to efforts by many, including his invited friends, Reed was completely surprised when he stepped out of the limousine and walked into the school.
“He smiled a lot,” she recalled. “He was one happy boy.”
Carey explained there are two “wish-granters” working as a team on each wish; her counterpart was Sue Miller. Reed’s wish was for an Alienware gaming computer. “When you tell anybody that plays videogames that you’re getting an Alienware gaming computer, they would be like ‘wow’,” she noted.
So, the team got to work planning a computer-oriented wish party. They wanted to do something different and special.
“What he had told us, and his mom had told us, is that he likes being home,” Carey said. “He didn’t want to go anywhere; he had spent most of last year on the road, going back and forth to Portland [for treatments], and he loves to play video games.”
Carey went to a good source for help: one of her grandsons. “I said, ‘What do you do for someone who’s getting an Alienware game computer for a wish?’ He said, ‘Well, you throw a LAN (local area network) party.’”
Team members connected with Boddy at VMS, who had contacted Make-A-Wish to offer expertise. Boddy performed some technical magic and voila! A LAN party was born.
“Steve set everything up so we had enough computer setups for all the kids, screens, the whole thing, laser lights and music – so when these kids got there and after we did the wish reveal, they all played videogames together for about two hours,” Carey said.
Adding to the festive atmosphere were masks painted like aliens (which even the limo driver wore), as well as some of Reed’s favorite refreshments: Mountain Dew, Coke, whoopie pies, chips and dip, Nerds and Twizzlers. Some of his teachers as well as Washburn National Honor Society members pitched in to help set up and decorate.
One thing that stands out for Carey is that everyone involved managed to keep the whole thing a secret. Invitations were sent to approximately 12 of Reed’s friends, who along with his family and the wish-granting team never breathed a word to the guest of honor.
“He was surprised and loved the day,” she commented.
Purington added Reed also received a special custom video as a remembrance of the event. For information on Make-A-Wish Maine, call (207) 491-3171 or visit maine.wish.org.
