The Make-a-Wish Foundation helps young people who have life-threatening illnesses (they do not necessarily have to be terminal patients) by granting them a wish. On average, the charity fulfills a wish once every 38 minutes in the United States and its territories.
We were pleased to see a recent report about how the Make-a-Wish Foundation brought some joy into the life of a young man in Mt. Pleasant Township, PA, as it gives us an opportunity to remind people about the good work it does.
Enrico Mucci, 17, was diagnosed at the age of 5 with epilepsy. He is enrolled in Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in New Stanton, studying automotive technology. He applied to the foundation, asking for help getting his 1999 Ford F250 Super Duty Diesel pick up truck.
Soon after, Howard Hughes, the owner of Howard’s Auto Body Restoration in Mt. Pleasant Township got word of the teenager’s special request. Hughes was well suited to this type of project, since he works on vehicles like this on a regular basis.
About three months later, Hughes presented Mucci with his newly restored vehicle. He made all the auto body repairs, added dark green-gold paint and spruced up the interior. They added energy-saving and eye-catching LED lights, put in a new bed liner and even replace the truck’s wheels.
Seen above in the picture, Howard Hughes, proprietor of Howard’s Auto Body Restoration in Mt. Pleasant Township, presents Enrico Mucci, 17, of Hempfield with a completely restored version of his 1999 Ford F250 Super Duty Diesel pick up truck. Having the truck restored was Mucci’s request via the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia chapter, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children, aged 2 years and 6 months to 18, with life-threatening medical conditions.
Photo courtesy of TribTotal Media Publications
Hughes made sure to use social media to publicize the effort. He said that the more people who “liked” his page on Facebook, the more parts he would be able to provide for Mucci’s truck.
The auto shop experts completely disassembled the vehicle, made all necessary repairs and did plenty of refinishing to make Mucci’s dream for his truck come true.
Mucci says he plans to use the newly outfitted truck to haul hogs to auctions, butchers and 4-H club events.
We at Regency Transportation are so glad that Mucci is doing well and that members of the community showed enough interest in the young man to help him with his pick up truck. We hope that more people will support the foundation and its efforts.
Click here for more information about the Make-a-Wish foundation.
