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Make-A-Wish
The annual Celebration Exotic Car Festival is a charity driven event, and all net proceeds are donated to the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Central and Northern Florida. In the first four years nearly $400,000 has been donated with $175,000 raised
in 2007 alone. We're working to beat that in 2008 so please come and support us - and if you can't make it along this time
then please donate - all contributions are very gratefully received.
For sponsorship opportunities at this superb event, please contact Jeff Ippoliti or Richard Beanland.
Nik's Wish
Nik is not just your average 9 year old boy; he is a 9 year old fighting leukemia with hopes of one day becoming a CSI agent.
For one whole day Nik's wish came true... he would be a CSI agent. Soon after he and his parents arrived at FDLE headquarters in
Pensacola, officers were called out to a mock shooting crime scene. It was time for Nik to suit up in his uniform, including
a jacket embroidered with his name, impressing his mother: "He looked amazing, just like one of the gang."
Off to the crime scene! Nik spent the next few hours combing the area for evidence, talking with police, and taking DNA samples from the two suspects: Vincent Vega, a.k.a. "8 Ball," and Whitey Hall, a.k.a. "The Pirate." He even got a bird's-eye view of the scene in a sheriff's helicopter. "It took my breath away to see how many people in law enforcement took the time to share in the day," his mother said. Among the goodies given to Nik by FDLE personnel were last season's CSI: Las Vegas on DVD, a signed poster, and a Quentin Tarantino script signed by cast members. He also received a fingerprint dusting kit, lab coat, and a magnifying glass that was passed down from Dr. Henry Lee, a renowned forensic scientist who worked on the O.J. case, to one of the crime scene investigators Nik worked with. The final stop on the whirlwind tour was the U.S. Court House, where he got to spend time with the Honorable Judge Kasey in her chambers. When they came out, Nik participated in a mock trial where he shared the findings... 8 Ball was guilty! "It makes me smile to know that by having had cancer, Nik has been exposed to so many life-changing things that will influence who he'll someday be," his mother said. "The sky's the limit, and I can't wait to see where it takes him." Elian's Wish
Only a year ago Elian's family left their country in search of better medical help and a better educational system for their
six year old son with Epilepsy. At first the family felt depressed for what they left behind and feared confronting the
language barrier and other cultural changes, but they overcame their fear by holding together as a family for Elian's best
interest... they did not want him to suffer anymore.
Since Elian was three years old he has loved the food network channel. At the time, he could only pronounce a few words as a result of the epilepsy but would immediately reply, "Cortar, Cortar" which means "Cut, Cut" when his family attempted to change the channel. At four years old, he clearly stated to his parents that he wanted to be a chef when he grew up. He quickly learned how to say "Bam!" like Mr. Emeril says. When it came time for Elian to make his wish, it was obvious what he would choose... to meet Emeril! When his day arrived, Elian dressed himself as a chef and asked for his hair to be combed; he wanted to impress his favorite chef. He was constantly asking his parents how he looked. As soon as the show started, Emeril came out and immediately acknowledged Elian. His mother stated, "Even though I promised myself that I wasn't going to cry, I finally shed tears of happiness to see my son full of so much joy. It was almost impossible to believe that such a dream was finally becoming true." At the end of the show the family went backstage where Elian met his hero and took several photos. He also gave Emeril a painting that read, "Thanks Mr. Emeril for being an inspiration to my dream of being a great chef like you." Emeril hugged Elian and gave him a cook book. Elian told his mother, "It's mine, and I am going to use it." Tyler's Wish
At age 5, Tyler was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. His cancer was so advanced that it had invaded his bone marrow.
Tyler's neuroblastoma originated on his left adrenal gland and as it grew it attached to his aorta. While spreading it had
wrapped around his aorta and vena cava and tentacled down to his colon, bladder and displaced his kidney. The initial diagnosis
was that his tumor was inoperable. But Tyler set out to battle his cancer! He began six cycles (six months) of high dose
combination chemotherapy and because of his tenacity, spirit, and the good work of his doctor's after his aggressive treatments
his tumor shrunk by 75%. Tyler still had a way to go though; a four hour surgery followed his chemotherapy treatments to remove
five pieces of the tumor that still remained attached to his aorta.
It was during his treatments that Tyler's family was referred to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida. Tyler's wish was to visit Las Vegas, a trip his Mom and Dad had once made and a place Tyler dreamed of visiting. Tyler wished to see the sites, sounds, fountains and fun of Las Vegas! His family decided that if he was well enough, they would work to schedule his wish after his chemotherapy and surgery, but before the next big hurdle he would face - a bone marrow transplant. His Mom and Dad wanted Tyler to have an amazing experience before the next phase in his battle with cancer. Angela his mother said: "Tyler's wish to visit Las Vegas was a goal for Tyler to reach." She added that they had hoped for Tyler's wish to be granted in the middle of his illness, that it would be something to look forward to before his next set of challenges. "He had made it through the first set of hurdles and we wanted him to have a wish experience where we could be a family once again, a chance to not think about hospital stays, chemo, and his illness for a while. We had not lived together as a family in over a year because of his hospitalization. His wish to visit Las Vegas was a goal we continually talked to him about while he was hospitalized. His wish gave him hope and strength to continue his battle against neuroblastoma." Viva Las Vegas!! Tyler's trip began just like any high roller on their way to Vegas with a limousine ride to the Orlando International Airport. Tyler and his family were met in Las Vegas by a Make-A-Wish volunteer and were whisked away to the Circus Circus Hotel. Along with visiting the sites and viewing the lights of the Las Vegas strip, Tyler's wish was to stay at the Circus Circus which has the world's largest permanent live circus and a Midway with exciting games and a state-of-the art arcade. What more could a six-year-old hope for! One of the many fun activities Tyler participated in was a Gondola ride at the Venetian Las Vegas. Tyler's mom Angela put together a collage of all the pictures they took while on their Make-A-Wish trip. For the three months that followed while he was hospitalized for his bone marrow transplant, each night Tyler and his family reminisced about their trip and the sights and sounds they experienced. Angela said, "Our Make-A-Wish experience was a blessing in so many ways, and we are the 50% of neuroblastoma patients that are going to make it!" |
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