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Sept. 5 and 6 were filled with unforgettable experiences for Syracuse Rockets sophomore Wes Ropers, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The sixteen-year-old sophomore experienced his first helicopter ride, on the Husker Helicopter, and the next day enjoyed the NU football game from the skybox in Memorial Stadium.
Ropers has cerebral palsy and has been in a wheelchair most of his life. He has limited arm movement but is able to feed himself and use a walker to walk small distances.
Mom Amy Ropers, employed at St. Mary’s Community Hospital in Nebraska City, said the weekend was a dream come true for her son. “He’s the number one sports fan,” she said.
Besides enjoying the game, Wes also got a chance to see the weightroom and experience the tunnel walk. He also meet Larry the Cable Guy, Johnny Rodgers and Gov. Dave Heineman. Wes said chatting with Larry the Cable Guy was a highlight of the day.
Kim and Jill Wolfe, owners of Midwest Medical Transportation, arranged for the helicopter ride and loaned their skybox seats for the game.
Wes said he has always been a Husker fan and has also attended basketball and baseball games. In March, with the help of the Nebraska athletic department, Make-A-Wish gave Wes the opportunity to be a radio announcer on the post-game Husker basketball show with head coach Doc Sadler. He also received five years of tickets to the Husker basketball games. He was on a Nebraska baseball radio broadcast in April and met baseball coach Mike Anderson and football coach Bo Pelini at the baseball stadium.
“Make-A-Wish is a wonderful program. Kids’ wishes can be granted and they give people a chance to live out their dream, whether it’s a day or half a day, they try and do whatever they can,” Amy said. “I want to thank the community for showing interest and including Wes.”
Ropers is one of many children who have had a wish granted by Make-A-Wish. According to the foundation’s web site, www.wish.org, in 2007 alone, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted the wishes of 13,006 children. A wish is granted every 60 minutes somewhere in the world.
Over 16,000 wishes have been granted since Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980. The Nebraska Chapter was founded in 1983 and has granted over 1,500.
Children between age two and a half and 18 years who are referred to Make-A-Wish can have their wishes granted if they are medically eligible. The first wish was granted in Arizona for a boy named Chris who was suffering from leukemia. He wanted a be a motorcycle police officer when he grew up and was sworn in as the first and only honorary Arizona Highway Patrolman in the state’s history.
One of the major fundraising events for the Make-A-Wish Foundation is the Wish Ride, an annual bicycle ride which drew 270 cyclists to southwest Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 28. Knights of Columbus, Council 3152, TierOne Bank, Bicycling Magazine and the League of American Bicyclists sponsor the event.
This year’s event was the 22nd Wish Ride and raised at least $7,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Chairman Ron Osovski of Nebraska City said a multitude of sponsors and volunteers have allowed the ride to be held each year since 1987.
Osovski said the Wirth, Kropp, Kimmel, Nelson and Steinhart foundations have each provided support. A variety of businesses, organizations and individuals have not only provided financial assistance, but also promotional help and food and beverage donations for the riders.
Walt Wenzl of Nebraska City helps direct traffic during the ride and has volunteered since Wish Ride 14. His grandson Andrew Wenzl was a wish child. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with cancer, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation provided Andrew with the chance to ride a fire truck and construction vehicles. Andrew passed away after a nine-month battle, shortly before the Wish Ride that was dedicated to him.
Walt said the Make-A-Wish Foundation is an organization he is happy to support. “It’s just a worthwhile cause,” he said.
Last year the foundation gave a 12-year-old Plattsmouth boy with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) a Disney Cruise. His family has spoken to various groups about the foundation.
Osovski said the Wish Ride continues to be an enjoyable way for people to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “People find it an easy, fun and family-oriented way to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” he said.
He said the colorful fall scenery along the route, which starts at the fire station in Percival, Iowa, makes the ride appealing. “The participants love the ride and the area, with the pretty views and the colors changing,” he said.
The biggest Wish Ride, Wish Ride 4, had 400 participants. “Historically, we’ve generally had 300 to 350 people,” Osovski said.
Valentino’s of Nebraska City and Wendy’s restaurants of Percival held benefits for the Make-A-Wish Foundation to supplement income generated by Wish Ride 22.
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