ppilotmike
Well Known Member
Here's an update on the VAF Make A Wish mission to get Alex Cuellar and his father to Oshkosh for Airventure this year. As many of you know from the previous thread, http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=85196 Alex has an unknown type of cancerous brain tumor, that's inoperable. Prior to being diagnosed, he was training for his PPL with aspirations of being a commercial pilot. Now he and his family are fighting the ailment as best as they can, while trying to live life to the fullest. After chemo and other treatments, that were apparently unsuccessful, the tumor inexplicably stopped growing on its own. They are monitoring it with MRIs, and hoping that Alex can gain strength enough to fight with immunotherapy if needed.
So here's the update:
Mission Goals:
1) Show Alex my plane project and give him a HB workshop experience - COMPLETE (Me, my wife, Michelle-Alex's mom)
2) Get Alex some stick time in a local RV - COMPLETE (EAA Chapter 301, Young Eagles & Gary Zilik RV-6)
3) Get Alex's mom a ride in an RV so she feels secure with him flying to OSH in one. - COMPLETE (Jim Berry RV-10)
4) Arrange for RT transportation to and from OSH - COMPLETE (Dwight Drefs RV-10) Arrive: Sunday, July 22nd - Depart: Sunday, July 29th
5) Arrange for lodging for Alex and his Dad. - AWAITING CONFIRMATION (Paul Merems - Christian School in Osh)
6) Arrange for daily/weekly tickets to AV for Alex and Dad. - STILL NEED (EAA?)
7) Aquire ground transportation for Alex and Dad while at OSH - STILL NEED (EAA?)
8) Aquire tickets to Van's Banquet for Alex and Dad - STILL NEED (Van's?)
9) Post after OSH writeup with pictures - STILL NEED (Me)
Since this has been a "Vans Community" effort from the very beginning. I think it would be very cool to have him and his dad at the Vans Banquet as an example of the strength of our brotherhood, and a nod to Doug Reeves and Vans Aircraft, for what they have created. A big thanks, from me personally, to those who have helped thus far.
So here's the update:
Mission Goals:
1) Show Alex my plane project and give him a HB workshop experience - COMPLETE (Me, my wife, Michelle-Alex's mom)
2) Get Alex some stick time in a local RV - COMPLETE (EAA Chapter 301, Young Eagles & Gary Zilik RV-6)
3) Get Alex's mom a ride in an RV so she feels secure with him flying to OSH in one. - COMPLETE (Jim Berry RV-10)
4) Arrange for RT transportation to and from OSH - COMPLETE (Dwight Drefs RV-10) Arrive: Sunday, July 22nd - Depart: Sunday, July 29th
5) Arrange for lodging for Alex and his Dad. - AWAITING CONFIRMATION (Paul Merems - Christian School in Osh)
6) Arrange for daily/weekly tickets to AV for Alex and Dad. - STILL NEED (EAA?)
7) Aquire ground transportation for Alex and Dad while at OSH - STILL NEED (EAA?)
8) Aquire tickets to Van's Banquet for Alex and Dad - STILL NEED (Van's?)
9) Post after OSH writeup with pictures - STILL NEED (Me)
Since this has been a "Vans Community" effort from the very beginning. I think it would be very cool to have him and his dad at the Vans Banquet as an example of the strength of our brotherhood, and a nod to Doug Reeves and Vans Aircraft, for what they have created. A big thanks, from me personally, to those who have helped thus far.
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