If you have spent much time on my blog, you will know that the Make-A-Wish foundation is very dear to my heart. You will also know how much the Wish-A-Mile bike ride means to us (and if not…see July of the last two years). This year however, WAM was a whole new experience because Paul joined Team Craig and rode the 300 miles. It was AMAZING!!! He left Thursday afternoon to get up to the starting point. The ride was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the Hero’s Hurrah festivities at the finish line. Keyan has been a wish hero for the past three years, but to place a medal around her Daddy’s neck was priceless.
The kids and I were able to be at the finish line for the first day and stayed to have dinner with Paul and the team. It was so great to see Paul hanging out with friends and having so much fun. The team has adopted Paul as part of the family and it has been so good for him. He has been training since January and actually on his bike since April. Paul doesn’t do anything halfway and he was VERY physically and mentally ready for this ride. His heart was in it because he knows the value of the wishes that are granted. 300 miles in 3 days raised $1.8 million which will grant 240+ wishes! I was such a proud wife and so thrilled to have our family be participating at another level.
The heat really got to all of us but the girls still got their faces and arms painted, played a few games, and loved the therapy dogs that were visiting. SO much so that at one point, I looked up and Abby was holding the leash of a very pretty golden retriever who must have only been in training because while we were in charge of her, she was not a very good listener! She was dragging Abby all over the place. It was pretty funny. Some of the Star Wars characters made a short appearance much to Keyan’s dismay…she ran smack dab into Chewbacca and went into complete hysterics…Jamahl would have been so devastated to see his sister behave this way! We just quickly moved Keyan out of the way and everything went back to being good.
The finish line on the final day is all gravel and actually very dangerous to be riding your bike on. This year, the entire team stopped on the road and walked their bikes in. I had tears falling freely as Jeremy took Paul’s bike and Paul took Keyan in her wheelchair the whole team plus Keyan crossed the finish line on foot while Keyan was on wheels. Isn’t that what it is all about? It is about making dreams come true…it is about making the impossible possible, and it is about giving these kids memories that get them through the darkest of days. It is not about getting to the finish, it is about the journey that gets you there. Keyan has had quite the journey in her short 6 and a half years, but with a village surrounding her, she continues to love life and inspire up all to demand more of ourselves.
Team Craig is a blessing straight from God. It is another one of those situations where God’s orchestration is SO evident. To think that three years ago we met them all when Keyan was first their wish hero and Debbie and I exchanged emails…and the rest is history. God brought them into our lives for very specific reasons and not many people would ever understand. This family is a literal life line for ours and that can only be a God thing!
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