Cobb County Government

“Ashley Croons with Country Crooner Joe Nichols”

Country superstar Joe Nichols has many fans, an overwhelming number of which happen to be female. But none of them have sung a duet with him on stage - except 8-year-old Ashley, who endured a rigorous surgery to remove a brain tumor.

For three weeks as Ashley recovered, she listened to Joe's CD, "Revelations," which had the wonderful song "If Nobody Believed In You." There was something about that song that just clicked for Ashley, and she knew exactly how she wanted to use her wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation: she wanted to meet Joe, and sing that song on stage with him. Ashley and her family went to the Poteet Strawberry Festival in Texas to meet her favorite singer where she was a BIP -- Berry Important Person-- and a judge at the festival's bake-off. It's hard to say who charmed who more, but a little later that night, Ashley was onstage with Joe singing a special duet to a huge concert crowd! Neither Joe nor Ashley will soon forget the magic of that night. Ashley's Mom said, "It was such a wonderful feeling to see how happy everyone made Ashley and to see how sweet Joe was to her. We really appreciate all the effort that went into making Ashley's wish come true."

“Evan Blazes New Trails In Kauai, Hawaii”
In many ways, 15-year-old Evan is not your typical teen - he's a poet, scientist and nature lover. He is also one of fewer than 400 children in the world currently diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG), a rare vascular disease that can cause severe damage by restricting blood flow to the vital organs of the body. Even before his diagnosis, Evan had aspirations of a medical career, and with his experiences fighting WG, he is even more passionate about studying medicine in the future.

With his wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation?, Evan decided to go somewhere he's always dreamed of exploring: Hawaii! He spent a wonderful week with his older brother Jack and the entire family before Jack headed off to college. Evan chose the island of Kauai, mainly because it is the least commercialized, and for a scientist, less commercial means more exploration! Make-A-Wish organized an island tour with David Boynton, a local professor, author, professional photographer and expert on Kauai's natural history. The family enjoyed kayaking down the Wailua River and discovering a hidden waterfall while hiking around the island. It was an incredible trip for a young man who has more than earned a chance to have his dream come true. "I'll always remember Evan's grin when we landed in Hawaii and Evan's excitement as we explored the island of Kauai,” Evan’s mom said. “We all rallied around Evan during the flare-ups of his illness - It was so wonderful to enjoy such a contrast - to be together as a family in such a beautiful part of the world."

Junior Goes To Disney World!!”

Six-year-old Fernando “Junior,” was diagnosed with a blood disorder at a very young age. He has been in constant treatment since that time to make him as healthy as possible; but there are still obstacles to overcome. Even throughout Junior’s treatments, he still remains positive and upbeat, always smiling and dreaming of the future ahead.

One of Junior’s dreams was to visit the magical place “Disney World.” When Make-A-Wish told Junior they would make his wish come true, he was all smiles. Junior loves animals, especially fish, so he couldn’t wait to visit the Animal Kingdom and Sea World. Junior’s grandmother and grandfather said that everyone was so good to them during the wish and that it was all so much fun. They even had a “Welcome Home” party awaiting Junior’s return. The entire experience brought all the happiness and excitement Junior could ever imagine!

“Madison Dines With Cinderella In Disney World”

Madison is one 7-year-old dynamo who never lets anything in her world get her down for too long. She's been a fighter since day one, having been born premature, and then being diagnosed with leukemia at 3. This little lady knows how to enjoy every moment of life!

As a celebration of her being exactly one year off painful and long chemotherapy and radiation treatments for her leukemia, Madison chose a trip to the Magic Kingdom with her wish. The family had their very own villa inside the Give Kids the World Village, and Madison had a ball visiting the Gingerbread House, riding the merry-go-round and visiting the 24-hour ice cream parlor for free ice cream. Madison met Mickey, had lunch with her hero Cinderella and had a group photo made with Cinderella and all the other princesses. Later that night at the parade, Cinderella recognized her friend Madison in the crowd and blew her a kiss as the carriage rolled by. The night ended with Madison being tucked in her bed by Mayor Clayton, the mayor of the Give Kids the World Village. "As a parent, this experience was one we will never forget,” Madison’s mom said. “As magical as it was for Madison, it was just as magical for us! Give Kids the World Village was such a wonderful, heartfelt place filled with lots of love and excitement for the whole family."

“Christopher Parrrrrrrties with Johnny Depp”

Meeting Johnny Depp and having front row seats at the premiere to the record-breaking "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" is something most kids only dream about. But 11-year-old Christopher was lucky enough to have this dream become a reality. Christopher has Diamond Blackfan anemia, a rare condition in which his bone marrow produces little or no red blood cells, making him susceptible to serious injury and requiring constant blood transfusions and medication to produce red blood cells.

Christopher loves playing outside, hanging out with friends and especially enjoying movies! So, it was no surprise when Christopher decided that attending the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie premiere would be the perfect wish for him. Christopher and his family flew to Anaheim, Calif., to attend the premiere at Disneyland. They met with Johnny Depp to ride the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction before it opened to the public and spent plenty of time talking with Depp. At the movie premiere, Christopher walked on the red carpet along other celebrities including Tony Hawk, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Dennis Rodman. He enjoyed the fact that he had better seats than most of the celebrities-- even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who was sitting behind him! Christopher’s mother was overjoyed by the experience. “Johnny Depp could not have been more wonderful to Christopher," she said. "He knew Christopher’s name immediately and was warm, sincere and humble.

Christopher had written and illustrated a story for Mr. Depp; he read every page and made Christopher feel very special by asking questions and thanking him for his gift. We cannot convey how it felt to experience this day with Christopher. We know that he will have this wish day now to hold in a special place and go to when he is afraid, sad, frustrated or feels all alone in his suffering. I think Christopher said it best when he told us very simply ‘It was the best day of my life.’ Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

“SpongeBob Meets His Match With Jasmine”

Jasmine is a big fan of SpongeBob SquarePants and hardly ever misses his show. Jasmine was born with Down Syndrome, has undergone countless surgeries and treatments and was also recently diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, that may require more surgery.

When she was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation? Jasmine thought it was the perfect opportunity to meet her hero, SpongeBob. While in Orlando, the family stayed in a private cottage inside the Give Kids the World Village. Jasmine was able to ride the merry-go-round as often as she wanted and eat ice cream until it came out of her ears. And, most importantly, she was able to meet all her favorite characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Shrek and her main man, SpongeBob SquarePants! It was a wonderful adventure for a pretty wonderful kid, and an opportunity for Jasmine's family to enjoy themselves as they watched Jasmine have the time of her life. Jasmine's Mom said, "She is so happy. My family is so much closer and Jasmine has been happy every since she met SpongeBob! Thank you so much - this was very special for all of us."

“TJ Discovers Disney World”

Thomas “TJ” is a 13-year-old boy who suffers with the life threatening medical condition, chronic lung disease. TJ spends his days and nights attached to machines that treat his condition and also uses an electric wheelchair to get around easier; although this doesn’t slow him down at all.

TJ wanted to go to Disney World to meet Mickey Mouse and to ride the cars. His wish came true when the Make-A-Wish Foundation® sent him and his family to Disney World where they stayed at Give Kids the World Village and visited many of the parks. One particular day at the Village, one of the family’s most special memories from the trip occurred. TJ’s father explains, “One special moment was at the Castle of Miracles within the Give Kids the World Village. Each “WISH” child was given a ‘Gold Star’ with their name on it. TJ received one and the star was permanently placed on the dome ceiling of the Castle. His star will be inside the Castle forever. TJ was also given a ‘Gold Star’ to bring home. We have it in a scrapbook to remember forever.”




Advanced Make A Wish 5k - Home History of Event Frequently Asked Questions Race Route Race Sponsors Photo Gallery Race Results Wishes Fulfilled Beverly Martin (770) 528-2620 email John Houser (770) 528-3813 email	We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Wishes Fulfilled 2006 Archives: 2003 \| 2004 \| 2005 \| 2006 \| 2007 \| 2008\| 2009 We are delighted to have you share the power of a wish. Please continue to help us grant wishes – your contribution makes a big difference in the lives of these children. Here are the stories of children you helped in 2006: “Ashley Croons with Country Crooner Joe Nichols” Country superstar Joe Nichols has many fans, an overwhelming number of which happen to be female. But none of them have sung a duet with him on stage - except 8-year-old Ashley, who endured a rigorous surgery to remove a brain tumor. For three weeks as Ashley recovered, she listened to Joe's CD, "Revelations," which had the wonderful song "If Nobody Believed In You." There was something about that song that just clicked for Ashley, and she knew exactly how she wanted to use her wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation: she wanted to meet Joe, and sing that song on stage with him. Ashley and her family went to the Poteet Strawberry Festival in Texas to meet her favorite singer where she was a BIP -- Berry Important Person-- and a judge at the festival's bake-off. It's hard to say who charmed who more, but a little later that night, Ashley was onstage with Joe singing a special duet to a huge concert crowd! Neither Joe nor Ashley will soon forget the magic of that night. Ashley's Mom said, "It was such a wonderful feeling to see how happy everyone made Ashley and to see how sweet Joe was to her. We really appreciate all the effort that went into making Ashley's wish come true." “Evan Blazes New Trails In Kauai, Hawaii” In many ways, 15-year-old Evan is not your typical teen - he's a poet, scientist and nature lover. He is also one of fewer than 400 children in the world currently diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG), a rare vascular disease that can cause severe damage by restricting blood flow to the vital organs of the body. Even before his diagnosis, Evan had aspirations of a medical career, and with his experiences fighting WG, he is even more passionate about studying medicine in the future. With his wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation?, Evan decided to go somewhere he's always dreamed of exploring: Hawaii! He spent a wonderful week with his older brother Jack and the entire family before Jack headed off to college. Evan chose the island of Kauai, mainly because it is the least commercialized, and for a scientist, less commercial means more exploration! Make-A-Wish organized an island tour with David Boynton, a local professor, author, professional photographer and expert on Kauai's natural history. The family enjoyed kayaking down the Wailua River and discovering a hidden waterfall while hiking around the island. It was an incredible trip for a young man who has more than earned a chance to have his dream come true. "I'll always remember Evan's grin when we landed in Hawaii and Evan's excitement as we explored the island of Kauai,” Evan’s mom said. “We all rallied around Evan during the flare-ups of his illness - It was so wonderful to enjoy such a contrast - to be together as a family in such a beautiful part of the world." Junior Goes To Disney World!!” Six-year-old Fernando “Junior,” was diagnosed with a blood disorder at a very young age. He has been in constant treatment since that time to make him as healthy as possible; but there are still obstacles to overcome. Even throughout Junior’s treatments, he still remains positive and upbeat, always smiling and dreaming of the future ahead. One of Junior’s dreams was to visit the magical place “Disney World.” When Make-A-Wish told Junior they would make his wish come true, he was all smiles. Junior loves animals, especially fish, so he couldn’t wait to visit the Animal Kingdom and Sea World. Junior’s grandmother and grandfather said that everyone was so good to them during the wish and that it was all so much fun. They even had a “Welcome Home” party awaiting Junior’s return. The entire experience brought all the happiness and excitement Junior could ever imagine! “Madison Dines With Cinderella In Disney World” Madison is one 7-year-old dynamo who never lets anything in her world get her down for too long. She's been a fighter since day one, having been born premature, and then being diagnosed with leukemia at 3. This little lady knows how to enjoy every moment of life! As a celebration of her being exactly one year off painful and long chemotherapy and radiation treatments for her leukemia, Madison chose a trip to the Magic Kingdom with her wish. The family had their very own villa inside the Give Kids the World Village, and Madison had a ball visiting the Gingerbread House, riding the merry-go-round and visiting the 24-hour ice cream parlor for free ice cream. Madison met Mickey, had lunch with her hero Cinderella and had a group photo made with Cinderella and all the other princesses. Later that night at the parade, Cinderella recognized her friend Madison in the crowd and blew her a kiss as the carriage rolled by. The night ended with Madison being tucked in her bed by Mayor Clayton, the mayor of the Give Kids the World Village. "As a parent, this experience was one we will never forget,” Madison’s mom said. “As magical as it was for Madison, it was just as magical for us! Give Kids the World Village was such a wonderful, heartfelt place filled with lots of love and excitement for the whole family." “Christopher Parrrrrrrties with Johnny Depp” Meeting Johnny Depp and having front row seats at the premiere to the record-breaking "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" is something most kids only dream about. But 11-year-old Christopher was lucky enough to have this dream become a reality. Christopher has Diamond Blackfan anemia, a rare condition in which his bone marrow produces little or no red blood cells, making him susceptible to serious injury and requiring constant blood transfusions and medication to produce red blood cells. Christopher loves playing outside, hanging out with friends and especially enjoying movies! So, it was no surprise when Christopher decided that attending the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie premiere would be the perfect wish for him. Christopher and his family flew to Anaheim, Calif., to attend the premiere at Disneyland. They met with Johnny Depp to ride the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction before it opened to the public and spent plenty of time talking with Depp. At the movie premiere, Christopher walked on the red carpet along other celebrities including Tony Hawk, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Dennis Rodman. He enjoyed the fact that he had better seats than most of the celebrities-- even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who was sitting behind him! Christopher’s mother was overjoyed by the experience. “Johnny Depp could not have been more wonderful to Christopher," she said. "He knew Christopher’s name immediately and was warm, sincere and humble. Christopher had written and illustrated a story for Mr. Depp; he read every page and made Christopher feel very special by asking questions and thanking him for his gift. We cannot convey how it felt to experience this day with Christopher. We know that he will have this wish day now to hold in a special place and go to when he is afraid, sad, frustrated or feels all alone in his suffering. I think Christopher said it best when he told us very simply ‘It was the best day of my life.’ Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” “SpongeBob Meets His Match With Jasmine” Jasmine is a big fan of SpongeBob SquarePants and hardly ever misses his show. Jasmine was born with Down Syndrome, has undergone countless surgeries and treatments and was also recently diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, that may require more surgery. When she was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation? Jasmine thought it was the perfect opportunity to meet her hero, SpongeBob. While in Orlando, the family stayed in a private cottage inside the Give Kids the World Village. Jasmine was able to ride the merry-go-round as often as she wanted and eat ice cream until it came out of her ears. And, most importantly, she was able to meet all her favorite characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Shrek and her main man, SpongeBob SquarePants! It was a wonderful adventure for a pretty wonderful kid, and an opportunity for Jasmine's family to enjoy themselves as they watched Jasmine have the time of her life. Jasmine's Mom said, "She is so happy. My family is so much closer and Jasmine has been happy every since she met SpongeBob! Thank you so much - this was very special for all of us." “TJ Discovers Disney World” Thomas “TJ” is a 13-year-old boy who suffers with the life threatening medical condition, chronic lung disease. TJ spends his days and nights attached to machines that treat his condition and also uses an electric wheelchair to get around easier; although this doesn’t slow him down at all. TJ wanted to go to Disney World to meet Mickey Mouse and to ride the cars. His wish came true when the Make-A-Wish Foundation® sent him and his family to Disney World where they stayed at Give Kids the World Village and visited many of the parks. One particular day at the Village, one of the family’s most special memories from the trip occurred. TJ’s father explains, “One special moment was at the Castle of Miracles within the Give Kids the World Village. Each “WISH” child was given a ‘Gold Star’ with their name on it. TJ received one and the star was permanently placed on the dome ceiling of the Castle. His star will be inside the Castle forever. TJ was also given a ‘Gold Star’ to bring home. We have it in a scrapbook to remember forever.”
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