By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
The 90 members of Team Moapa Valley that participated in the “Run For A Wish” 5k event for the Make A Wish Foundation earlier this year are seeing a wish of their own come true: helping a local kid get his wish. On Saturday, Jason Brill had his wish granted in style by the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Make A Wish foundation.
In March of this year Jason Brill, an 8th grader at Mack Lyon Middle School, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments at home and in the hospital with some success thus far, according to family members.
Granting the wish was a significant event for Overton resident Natalie Jacobsmeyer. Jacobsmeyer, who is the captain of Team Moapa Valley, was asked by the Make A Wish foundation to coordinate Jason’s wish.
The Make A Wish foundation is a nation-wide organization with the mission of granting the wishes of kids with life-threatening illnesses. The foundation has granted the wishes of more than 200,000 children since its establishment in 1983.
Jacobsmeyer went through weeks of meticulous planning to make sure that everything would be perfect for Jason’s wish on Saturday.
“I just think that this is so great that we can help a local kid with locally raised money and so much help from local businesses,” Jacobsmeyer said.
Granting Jason’s wish actually began on Wednesday afternoon in the Overton Library where Jason and his family enjoyed a wish kick-off party. A generous spread of food was provided for the party by Lin’s Marketplace in Overton.
“We held the party here at the library because it is a place where Jason and his family loves to go,” Jacobsmeyer said. “We felt like they would be most comfortable here.”
During the party, Jason was presented with one of the centerpieces of his wish: a brand new laptop computer. He also received a donation from Moapa Valley Telephone of a year of free internet service.
But that was only the beginning. The fun continued on Saturday afternoon when Jason and his family were picked up by a limo at his Overton home. From there they family rode into Las Vegas in style where Jason spent the afternoon on an all expenses paid shopping spree.
He shopped for computer software and accessories at Office Depot. Then made stops at Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Each store gave Jason the red carpet treatment providing personal shopping experts to assist him through the store.
After the long day of shopping was finished the family was treated to a big buffet dinner at the Santa Fe Station in Las Vegas. Then the limo returned them back home.
“I think that it was a great time for Jason and his family,” Jacobsmeyer said. “I really appreciate all the help from local people and businesses in making it a success.”
