I think whenever you take a step back and you look at things and you think about whether or not you are heading along the right path in life, you often meet someone who makes a direct impact on your life. Then, it’s almost like you know, you just know that you’ve got to be headed on somewhat of the right path doing something right. And on top of all of that, it is pretty cool to look back on the path you’ve traveled.

I am honestly in awe at how people who have the worst situations in life can have such a positive outlook on everything even in the hardest of times. Through my relationship with the NCAA, Abilene Christian University, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I have been reluctant to meet a few children who definitely have every right in the world to just hang it up and quit fighting… but they don’t. They stare their nasty situation right in the eye and with all the confidence in the world they fight it to the end with every step, smile, and tear giving each of us around them hope that we could maybe do the same.

When I met first met the little girl Tatum, we quickly found out she is a fighter and she has the biggest heart you could ever imagine. Even with having Leukemia she impacted me more than anything and it blows me away how someone as little as her can have such a huge impact on the world around her and she doesn’t even know it. Tatum’s wish was originally to meet Jack Black, lol, but things worked out that she decided to go to Disney World. To help share her story, we put together a video that helps display that. I hope you enjoy it!

This year we met Hayden, what a guy. Hayden was told that he would most likely never walk again after the blood vessel had busted open in the backside of his head. But he came through a miraculous surgical operation that saved his life and was walking within two months after the operation. How awesome is that? Hayden is a golfer and his wish was to go to Hawaii with his family to golf. Again, it is people like Tatum and Hayden that give me hope to fight life with hope and courage and strength every single day!

We started a 5K walk/run in Abilene in 2011 to help raise money in hope that a local child in Abilene could have their wish come true! You can check out the video we did here. My friend Julie, who is an amazing photographer said that, “Seeing the community’s heart for these wish kids is truly unbelievable. This year was an even better turn out than last year.”

Here are her photos from the race in 2012, Hayden is in the middle. 

If you would like to get involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the best way would be to go to wish.org/NCAADII and select Abilene Christian University from the drop down list, then follow through the online form! Every little bit counts in big ways!

I want to thank everyone that has helped us and continues to support our efforts! It means so much!