Make a Wish: 500 Big Rig Convoys for a Cause

If you were driving on I-84 or 385 around East Hartford Sunday morning you couldn’t miss the 500 big rigs that formed a convoy for a cause.

Fire trucks, monster trucks, military vehicles, and semis paraded down I-84 and I-384, honking their horns and carrying important cargo. One-hundred-fifty children who have fought life-threatening medical conditions got to be passengers for the 16th annual Wishes on Wheels fundraiser.

“Awesome,” screamed Jacob Bettencourt of Bethany, as he climbed into Richard Sullivan’s truck. It’s just great!”

“Just the excitement of the kids, and the trucks, and the different sounds. It’s great,” said Richard Sullivan who drives for Freightliner of Hartford.

Sullivan has been participating for the past eight years.

Bettencourt is in remission after fighting leukemia three years ago. This was his second year participating in the event.

Companies pay $25 to be part of the convoy, but many corporate sponsors give more.

“We do it every year and it’s good to be a part of it,” said Todd Robare of D&L Towing.

Over the past 15-years the event has raised one-million-dollars for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. That money pays for the patients’ wishes.

“We never expected it to get as big as it has. Every year, it’s the most emotional thing I’ve ever done in my life,” said Wishes on Wheels Founder Keith Herzig.

“There’s people sitting on the sides of the highways waving and telling all the trucks to honk their horns and stuff and it’s really cool,” said Kylie Scarpellino.

The 13-year-old beat not one but two auto immune diseases. She said her Make-A-Wish to swim with dolphins in Hawaii gave her hope.

“When you’re sick you don’t know what’s going to happen to you and it gave me something to look forward to,” said Scarpellino.

Three-year-old Peyton Vincent went to Disney World, after being diagnosed with stage three brain cancer at just four months old. Make-A-Wish helped his family get through their darkest days.

"It's everything. Every time they have an event we're there and trying to help out and support them as much as we can,” said Payton’s Father Paul Vincent.

After spending an hour on the interstate the trucks returned to Rentschler Field for a big celebration with the kids and their families.

Three-year-old Peyton, went to Disney World, after being who was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer at just four months old. Make-A-Wish helped his family get through their darkest days.

"It's everything. Every time they have an event we're there and trying to help out and support them as much as we can."

That support was heard loud and clear on Sunday.
 

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