The giving spirit is alive and well in the hearts of San Diegans as one good deed blossomed into another, then another, for a visiting family from Oberlin, Ohio.
A Special Wish Foundation is Ohio’s version of the nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation created to grant special requests to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
Kyle Riggs, 17, has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Instead of the often-requested trip to Disneyland, Kyle wanted to come to San Diego to see the zoo, safari park, SeaWorld, a Chargers game and, especially, to go ocean fishing.
The foundation covered or secured donations for the flights, nine-day San Diego Marriott stay and rental car for Kyle, his mom, Cindy Carrico, and his sister, Cayla. 13. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park offered complimentary passes.
When Marcia Allen, of the Ohio foundation, asked H&M Landing for a discount on a private charter for Kyle and his family, its staff contacted charter Capt. John Guest. He not only offered the trip for free (a $1,000 value), he called some of his friends.
As a result, the Everingham Brothers Bait Co. is donating the bait and Capt. Guest’s past employer at Toyota of Escondido is underwriting the fuel cost and lunch.
Kyle arrived Monday, too late to see the final Chargers home game, but when Capt. Guest learned that Kyle was a Chargers fan, he contacted the team’s front office and was assured the Chargers would arrange a special surprise for Kyle.
H&M Landing employees asked state Fish and Wildlife folks to donate or discount the family’s fishing licenses. Upon finding out that wasn’t possible, staff members chipped in to pay the license cost.
Kyle’s half-day fish outing is set to depart at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow with Capt. Guest at the helm. The name of Guest’s fishing boat says it all: “Faith.”
Original article by Diane Bell | Dec. 23, 2015 | The San Diego Union-Tribune
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