Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:07 PM CDT
Make-A-Wish makes Stuckey's Wrestlmania dream come true
By DAWN JAMES, Staff Writer
djames@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Landon Stuckey, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Riddle Elementary School, wished to attend one of sports entertainment’s biggest events, the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
With help from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois and World Wrestling Entertainment, his wish was granted on April 3-6.
Landon was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma last year, and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments at St. Louis Children’s Hospital once every four weeks, according to his mother, Maya Stuckey. He also takes chemo medication.
She said Landon is doing well and is to be in remission on Oct.13 of this year, and his birthday is Oct. 17.
Stuckey commented on how blessed they’ve been with all the community support as well as support from area organizations. She is planning a big birthday bash/remission party for Landon at K-9 Estates in Mattoon, where she works, as a way of trying to give something back to all who have helped them.
Landon was a Jefferson Award recipient a couple years ago after he asked Mattoon police to distribute Christmas toys to hospitalized children rather than shower him with gifts.
The 11-year-old WrestleMania fan has been a fan since age two or three, according to Stuckey.
She said at first the sport wasn’t really her thing, but it’s something they can do together — watch wrestling on a Monday night. A lot of her friends can’t believe she likes it, she said, but she enjoys the time with her son.
Stuckey and Landon’s father, Jeremy Kolpin, Ellen Kolpin (Landon’s sister) 4, and Landon drove to O’Fallon April 2 to stay the night prior to being picked up by a limo early the following morning. All of the arrangements were handled by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, according to Karen Buckles, one of Landon’s wish granters.
Landon noted that he had to get up extra early around 5 a.m. as the limo was to arrive around 7:30 a.m. for their flight to Houston.
His favorite wrestler is The Undertaker, and Landon already had the wrestler’s autograph prior to attending WrestleMania.
“That’s who he wanted to meet when we first met with them (Landon’s family) said Deb Webster, who also served as Landon’s wish granter. Webster and Buckles are both from Altamont.
A highlight of the trip was getting to see another one of his favorite wrestlers John Cena. WrestleMania was held at Reliant Stadium.
“WWE has helped us grant the wishes of so many courageous kids, and each one comes back delighted by the experience,” said Laura Huerta, community relations manager of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its wish-granting activities.
“We’re fortunate to have a dedicated wish-granting partner like WWE to help us fulfill our life-affirming mission.“
Asked to describe the event, Landon quickly said, “the grandest stage of them all.” Adding that was how the moderators of the show described it. Landon was one of more than 40 kids whose wish to attend the 25th Anniversary was granted by WWE and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
He said the weather was a perfect 70 degrees and that the attendance on Sunday was 74,744. The Riddle Elementary student said the best thing about the trip was “all of it — WrestleMania.“
Wish activities hosted by WWE and its superstars and divas included a special tour of the Houston Zoo and private autograph session on April 3; a private party at Reliant Stadium on Saturday, and the opportunity to attend a special session of WWE’s WrestleMania Axxess as well as the highlighted 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania on April 5.
“It’s always fulfilling to see smiles on the faces of these Make-A-Wish children as we make their wishes to be part of our biggest event of the year, WrestleMania, come true,” said Sue Aitchison, WWE’s director of community relations. “It was particularly memorable this year as we celebrate 25 years of working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.“
Contact Dawn James at djames@jg-tc.com or 238-6866.
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Danny Boy wrote on Apr 18, 2009 1:18 PM: