Groups help fulfill C.J.'s list
By SHEILA RHOADES
Monday, August 25, 2008 8:44 AM EDT
ROANN - The United Auto Workers Local 685 in Kokomo and General Motors Corporation have helped make a Roann boy's wishes come true.
C.J. Holbrook recently returned from a Canadian fishing trip, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
When 13-year-old C.J. was diagnosed with Hodgin's lymphoma, his life changed forever. Side affects from chemotheraphy, traveling to doctor's appointments and taking daily medications often leave C.J. feeling tired and weak.
An eighth-grader at Manchester Junior High School, C.J. is a typical teenager who enjoys playing his saxophone, hanging out with his friends and going fishing.
When the Roann teen met with local Make-A-Wish volunteers Terry and Dottie Miller, he told them that his dream was to go on a fishing trip in Canada.
"When we were contacted by the
Cont. on Page 3A.
Make-A-Wish Foundation we were both honored and excited," Adam Holbrook, C.J.'s dad, said. "Planning C.J.'s wish gave us hope at a difficult time."
C.J.'s wish began on Aug. 9 with a flight to Ontario and a scenic drive to Peffley's Canadian Wilderness Camp north of Perrault Falls. In a remote fishing resort on the north end of Babaskang Lake, C.J. fished for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and whitefish.
Proprietor Dave Peffley generously donated a cabin and boat for the entire week. He gave the family, including siblings Benjamin, 6, and twins Sara and Tara, 7, the VIP treatment during their stay. He even took the family fishing on his private lake.
"C.J. was able to fish as much as he wanted and enjoy the great outdoors with our family," his father said. "Words cannot describe the wonderful things that happened for C.J. and my entrie family that week. We didn't want it to end."
Rhett Cecil, executive director at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, said the Foundation was thankful to UAW Local 685 for making C.J.'s wish come true. The trip was funded by UAW-GM as part of a three-year national sponsorship.
In 1999, the Internation Union, UAW and GM announced a national sponsorship of the Foundation and together committed to helping grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
To date, they have helped to grant thousands of wishes as well as raise funds for the Foundation through GM dealer donations and community-based promotions.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the largest wish-granting organization in the world with 71 chapters in the US, 23 international affiliates, more than 25,000 volunteers and more than 135,000 wishes granted since inception in 1980.
For more information go online to www.makeawishindiana.org.
Print this story | Email this story
|
