Four-year-old Hayden Dell, of Hanover, nephew of Stambaugh Ness Stockholder Nikki Hoffman, was thrilled to ride this fire truck in the 206-truck convoy – the seventh such convoy to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The fire truck was from the Liberty #1 Fire Company in East Berlin.

Organizers of the May 4th event said the high cost of fuel prohibited companies from formally sponsoring many of the drivers, but the drivers paid for their own participation.

Hayden suffers from the very rare WAGR Syndrome that can cause eye sensitivity, mental retardation, genital abnormalities and Wilm's tumor – a type of kidney cancer. Hayden and his family were featured in a local United Way video two years ago. Hayden's mom, Julie, is Nikki's sister.

According to Nikki, SN Client L&H Trucking is the major sponsor of the convoy that raises funds annually for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Several other Stambaugh Ness client companies also participated in the event.

Hayden was one of 50 children who signed up as co-drivers for the convoy that began at the L&H site located at 860 Gitts Run Road, Hanover. The event included face painting, carnival games, raffles, food, a huge slide, a Busch Series Show Car and a performance by Kevin Sharp, age 37, a former wish kid who was given eight months to live. Sharp is an award-winning country-music artist, motivational speaker and cancer survivor who also served as a national spokesman for the foundation. He has participated in the Hanover area event for three years.

HAYDEN AND HIS FANS (from left) - Brad (truck driver), Hayden, Sister Maddie, Brother Jaxon, Dad Brian, Mom Julie, Drivers Keith and Sam.

Following the carnival and Sharp's performance, the trucks embarked on their 50-mile route through the area then south on Route 94. Along the way, cars pulled to the side of the road and waved as the truck drivers honked their horns. It is estimated about 1,000 people watch and cheer for the convoy each year.

Last year, the 187-truck convoy raised $131,000 for Make-A-Wish, and participants surpassed this year's goal of $150,000. The convoy is the largest fund-raiser for the local Make-A-Wish chapter, and it benefits children in Adams and York counties. The trucker who raises the most money gets to lead the convoy the following year. 

Nikki says, "Hayden is doing very well. On April 21st he had his three-month ultrasound on his kidneys, and there were no signs of tumors. He has developed Glaucoma, which is one of the issues with WAGR syndrome and having aniridia. However, six eye drops a day are keeping his eye pressures at a normal range. He currently attends a preschool through the Lincoln Intermediate Unit three days a week."

Nikki says Hayden will get his wish granted next summer.  "He told the Make-A-Wish volunteers he wanted to go to Mickey's House – so the family is going to Disney World!"

"If you have never been to this event, you should consider attending next year," Nikki adds. "It is a wonderful experience. When I used to hear about the truck convoy, all I thought about was ‘it's just a bunch of trucks driving down the road,' but it is so much more than that. It was an emotional roller coaster that day. My mom and I cried as the truck convoy left the parking lot. I was thinking ‘What a great thing these truckers are doing for these children who don't know what tomorrow will bring.'"

Next year's convoy will be held on May 3, 2009.
 
For more information about WAGR, visit http://www.wagr.org/. Hayden's mother also updates his website regularly at www.caringbridge.org/visit/hayden.