Will is a 15 year-old boy who enjoys hanging out with his friends, watching Duke Basketball, and playing baseball. He likes listening to G-Unit and watching Pimp My Ride on MTV.
When Will was visited by his wish granters, they asked him, “If you had one wish, what would it be?” Will’s reply was what any teenaged boy about to get his driver’s permit would wish for, “I want to have my Blazer ‘pimped’.” Some of the items on Will’s wish list included; new leather seats, LCD in-dash receiver, flip down monitors, Play Station 2, DVD player and 150 spoke rims.
With help from Classic Soft Trim, Tweeter, and Speed Styles Make-A-Wish was able to transform Will’s factory 2003 Blazer into his ultimate “pimped’ ride in less than 8 weeks. We had talked with Will’s parents about the progress of the Blazer and that we were 99% sure that it would be done in time for Will’s birthday, but we all decided to keep Will in the dark about the progress of his vehicle. Wanting to make the presentation extra special and not wanting him to get discouraged with the length of time that he thought it was taking to finish his Blazer, we planned a birthday party at Wild Wing Café for him. We told Will we were not able to get his Blazer done in time for his birthday like originally planned, but that it would be done in a couple more weeks. What Will didn’t know about the party was there were going to be many very special surprises.
Will’s father, Bill, help to us arrange the first surprise. Coach Leggett for the Clemson Tigers Baseball Team was Will’s summer baseball camp’s coach and had kept in touch with Will and to see how he was doing with his treatments. When Coach Leggett heard about what we were doing for Will he was honored to come be a part of Will’s wish and was delighted that we asked him to present Will with his new “pimped” ride.
Will came to Charlotte thinking that he was only getting a birthday party. Make-A-Wish volunteers came out to meet Will, and many of those who helped “pimp” Will’s Blazer were there. Will’s Aunt Woody made it in from Raleigh, and some of Will’s friends came from Boone to be at the party. All of these people were in on the surprise unveiling of Will’s Blazer. After welcoming everyone and eating, it was time to open gifts. Some of Will’s presents included Play Station 2 video games, a Duke basketball, a Hurricane’s jersey and a Clemson license plate. After Will unwrapped the last gift, Coach Leggett said he had forgotten one last thing in his car.
Everyone at the party went outside, waiting to see what Coach Leggett had in store. In an adjacent parking lot, a faint thumping sound could be heard. As the sound got closer you could tell the sound was from the bass of a stereo system. A black Blazer turned the corner into the parking lot of Wild Wing Café, and as it approached you could hear the music pounding. Everyone turned to see what was making so much noise, but Will thinking that his Blazer was not ready, did not realize what was coming around the corner. He looked at the vehicle and then turned to talk to his friends. As the Blazer rolled closer he turned and looked again, but did not say anything. Finally, someone said, “Hey Will, isn’t that your Blazer?” And when Will turned and looked for the third time he saw Coach Leggett pulling up in his Blazer.
Will’s expression was priceless. Although he was a little shocked we had kept such a huge secret, he was truly surprised and excited by seeing his new “pimped” ride. Will and his friends quickly jumped in and started playing with all of the new equipment. They checked out the speakers, the subwoofers, the Play Station 2, the DVD player, the mini fire extinguisher, the leather seats, the Duke floor mats and the rims. It was a wonderful night for Will and his family and a night that for everyone who was there, will never forget.
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