About the Impact of One Child's Special Wish:
To Renovate His Elementary School Gymnasium
In the summer of 2007, an energetic, athletically gifted 10-year old boy named Chase Donnell began to experience poor health, and was soon diagnosed with an aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system, Burkitt's lymphoma. Chase, his Mom Jennifer, and Dad Clint began a long series of hospital stays, chemotherapy, and doctor visits, broken up by the occasional brief stays at home, or greetings in the hospital from his favorite Nashville Predators stars. In November, 2007 Chase learned he could have a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
At first he said "I haven't done anything to deserve a wish". Chase considered his love of NASCAR, hockey, and all the places he could go, or celebrities he could meet, and finally decided his wish: To Meet Dylan and Cole Sprouse stars of the Disney Channel's comedy, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Throughout the winter, with his parents by his side, Chase spent most of his time in the hospital, watching his favorite shows, and keeping up with the Predators' advance to the Playoffs. But Chase's illness progressed rapidly, and soon it became clear that the treatment was not going to allow him to travel for a wish. In March, 2008, Chase knew that he had to think of another wish quickly.
Mom Jennifer Dunn said, "When Chase realized what his diagnosis was, he said 'I can pretty much get anything I want, so maybe I should do something for somebody else. I want to help my school'."
Chase loved sports - especially the Predators, NASCAR, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Chase especially loved his gym class at Walter Hill Elementary School, so he decided his wish would be To Renovate His School Gym for his classmates.
Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee quickly reached out to his school and community to figure out what the Gym project would take, with one promise to Chase: He didn't want Make-A-Wish to renovate the gym if the kids would miss gym class - as he knew they loved the class as much as he did. To honor his wishes, Make-A-Wish and volunteers scheduled the gym renovation for Saturday, March 15, 2008 so that none of the kids would miss gym class. As soon as the date was set, and the call for volunteers went out, they received hundreds of calls. The Predators themselves called to donate indoor hockey equipment. The Make-A-Wish team took great joy in sharing this news with Chase and his family in the days leading up to the make-over, though Chase passed away just two days after learning the renovation was scheduled for the following weekend.
The spirit of Chase's selfless wish, and the outpouring of support from the community made it a joyous and bittersweet occasion the following Saturday when 100+ volunteers came together to re-make Chase's beloved gym. In addition to the hockey gifts from the Predators, local businesses Publix, Famous Dave's Barbecue, Chick Fil-A, Donut Country, and IJ foods donated food and drinks for volunteers. Diamond Equipment and True Value Hardware donated paint, cleaning supplies, and other equipment in addition to the materials and sound system funded by a grant from Lete' du Vin. Art teachers and gifted neighbors painted the gym with silhouettes bearing Chase's favorite number 8. And news teams from all over Middle Tennessee came to tell the story. But that was only the beginning of the ripple effect that Chase's wish would have.
At the time that Chase's gym project was being organized, a local race-car team owner heard about the project and Chase's wish. When Baker Curb's CEO Gary Baker learned of Chase's courage and thoughtfulness of others, he said, "This is the toughest kid we have ever heard about - and our upcoming race is the toughest track on the circuit." In honor of Chase's love of NASCAR - and in recognition of his courage and strength, Baker Curb Racing put Chase's picture on their race car which ran in the Bristol 500 the week-end following Chase's passing. Stories about Chase's wish and his car at the Bristol race aired on ESPN and the Speed Channel, television sports news throughout Tennessee, and in newspaper stories nationwide.
--More--
THE INFINITE WISH
Walter Hill Elementary School held a dedication of its newly renovated gym on March 19th to honor Chase. On that special day, the entire student body of Chase's school, and many friends and family, all gathered together in the gym to share their memories and thanks for the blessing of Chase and his generous wish. Baker-Curb brought their car, emblazoned with Chase's picture on the back, to cheer up the students. NHL Predator J.P. Dumont and the Predators' Mascot Gnash came to celebrate with Chase's classmates. Chase's parents, Clint and Jennifer, shared their loving memories of Chase, and implored the students to play, and play hard, as Chase would have wanted. The school principal read the plaque that would hang on the gym wall to remember Chase. And the news media brought the story of Chase to all of Middle Tennessee one more time.
The power of Chase's wish to move people has continued to grow and touch other lives. Soon after Chase's gym was dedicated, the Predators invited Chase's parents to come to a game. During intermission, the Predators announcer told Chase's story to an audience of thousands, and displayed jersey #1 with Chase's name on the Preds' bench throughout the game. This Jersey was permanently retired in Chase's honor. Chase and his parents were cheered to the rafters.
Chase's story aired again in extended form on several local news channels that evening and in subsequent weeks.
The Baker Curb team also took Chase's story to Ford Motor Company, the FordCares Foundation, and Tennessee legislators to create FordCares license plates that will be sold in Tennessee to benefit Make-A-Wish and the 3 children's hospitals (Vanderbilt, St. Jude's, and East Tennessee Children's Hospital]. Ford Motor Company has been so inspired by Chase's story that they plan to take these specialty license plates national, state-by-state to be sold to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and children's hospitals. Cumulus Broadcasting Radio [WQQK - WRQQ - WWTN - WNFN - WSM-FM - WSM-AM] has committed to promote the sale of these plates in Tennessee. Chase's story so inspired the Baker-Curb Racing team, that they also produced a 30-minute documentary "The Unselfish Wish" which aired their new RFD-TV television series Music and Motors.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has even established a dedicated website for those who want to help make future wishes come true in honor of Chase and his wish: www.wish.org/chase.
Chase's story continues to inspire people across Middle Tennessee each time it is told or re-told by the media and the friends and neighbors who knew him. Thousands of children will enjoy the brightly decorated gym that honors Chase's memory with its plaque, the donated equipment, and the spirit of play that lives on there. With all the ways that Chase has shared the power of a wish, we feel most of all that Chase has gone to work from the heavens on behalf of other children like him.
For these reasons, Chase's wish lives on, and on.
Submitted by:
John Dwyer, President
Board of Directors
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee
About The Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception.
The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is the youngest Make-A-Wish chapter in the country and has granted more than 650 wishes in Middle Tennessee since the chapter was founded in 2000. Individuals interested in helping can visit the Make-A-Wish website at www.midtnwishes.org, call (615) 259-2324, or send donations to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee, 209 10th Avenue South, Suite 527, Nashville, TN, 37203.
