Make A Wish Central and Western North Carolina Chapter

In April of 1980 a young man named Chris was suffereing from leukemia. A family friend knew that Chris wanted to be a motorcycle officer when he grew up! This very special friend spoke to a member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) - the Highway Patrol - about Chris. Within a few days, several motorcycle and patrol officers from DPS stopped by to say "hello." After meeting the seven-year-old, the officers wanted to do more.

On April 29, 1980 arrangements were made to take Chris for a ride in the Ranger helicopter with a local news reporter and pilot who filmed Chris' dream coming true. A ride in a police car and an opportunity to drive (with a fellow sergeant assisting) was to follow. To top it all off, Chris got to ride on a motorcycle with sirens blaring. He was personally escorted on a tour of the Department while being carried in the arms of various officers.

A few hours later, Christopher was sworn in as the first and only honorary Arizona Highway Patrolman in the state's history. Complete with a Smoky Bear hat, tour of the radio room, official badge and signed certificate Chris' comments included "Neato!" and "Hey, that's my name…Chris Grecius!"

Two days later a local businessman associated with the DPS and two employees of John's Uniforms donated a custom-made highway patrolman's uniform to Chris. That morning patrol cars and motorcycles poured down the street into the driveway to see Chris one more time.

Earning his wings was next, as he mounted his battery-powered motorcycle that had taken the place of his wheelchair. An obstacle course set up in the driveway of his home, which Chris mastered thanks in part to a pair of custom-made motorcycle wings donated by a local jeweler that were added to the patch on the small uniform.

Chris succumbed to the leukemia that had ravaged his body on May 3, 1980. The motorcycle officers decided that full honors were in order for this fallen officer that had so touched them.

The dreams of this young boy did not die with him, but instead live on in the wishes of thousands of children who suffer from life-threatening medical conditions. Thirty-eight dollars, five people and nine months after Chris' passing, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted its first wish to a Yaqui boy named Bopsy who wanted to be a fireman.

By January of 1982 the Make-A-Wish
Foundation was becoming well known. NBC Television aired a special on Make-A-Wish featuring another Wish Child. This inspiring story touched the heart of the nation, and the grassroots organization that started out of the desire to see a smile on the face of a dying child was about to grow…and grow…and grow.

(Paraphrased from a document by Linda Bergendahl Pauling, Co-Founder of Make-A-Wish and Chris' mom)

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Western North Carolina's mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

We are entirely responsible for raising the funds for every wish in our territory, as well as for fund raising and management costs.

You're welcome to visit our fundraising pages to learn more about our sponsors and ways you can donate.