 | | | Gavin Cano (being hugged) learns he will have his wish -- to travel to Hawaii with his family and swim with dolphins -- granted by Make-A-Wish Foundation. Photo Cathy Dausman | | | | | | It was everything the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area Foundation could have wished for, and then some - blue skies on a summer Saturday and a 300-plus participant turnout for the annual East Bay Walk for Wishes fun run.
The fun run on Aug. 20 was the third such event on consecutive weekends in August (Petaluma hosted a walk Aug. 13; Mountain View held theirs Aug. 27) and the seventh event hosted at the Saint Mary's College campus.
"We try to make (the walks) an entertaining experience for the kids," said Make-A-Wish marketing director Jennifer Wilson.
And fun it was, as 43 Wish teams assembled to be treated to temporary tattoos, live DJ music, bagels and fruit and coffee compliments of the Moraga Police Department.
"It was an awesome turnout," said Make-A-Wish volunteer and former wish recipient Audrey Price of Lafayette (http://tinyurl.com/hqefprf ), who volunteered for and walked the course with her family. "Star Wars" enactors from the Golden Gate Garrison's 501st Legion added an other-worldly presence as five members trooped in to the music of the Imperial March. Ten-year-old cancer patient Gavin Cano had his photo taken with family, friends and troopers under the start line minutes before learning he would have his wish granted - to swim with dolphins in Oahu with his family.
The SMC event raised $71,746, helping Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area grant 378 wishes this year, Wilson said.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA