Douglas County schools raise $650,000 for wishes

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ree-year-old Titus, who has lymphoma, has a wish. He wants to meet Lightning McQueen, the smiling red stock car from the animated lm, “Cars.”

So, students and sta at Ponderosa High School decided to spend a week “Racing to Titus’ Wish.” e highlight was when a spotlight shined on Titus riding into an assembly hall on Lightning McQueen with his family behind him.

It was part of Wish Week for the school and nine other Douglas County School District schools that participated in making dreams of everything from seeing the wonders of Hawaii to celebrating basketball heroes come true. Over the course of the last ve months, the schools raised a combined $650,000 for Make-A-Wish Colorado. at’s enough funds to grant 87 wishes for children like Titus with critical illnesses.

Ponderosa’s tally was $42,000, which can grant six wishes.

Each of the schools gave a child and their family a week they will never forget lled with love and support.

At Chaparral High School, participating for a 10th year, 7-yearold Aria, who has congenital heart disease, wanted to meet Princess Jasmine from Disney’s “Aladdin.”

Aria wore her own purple princess dress as she met a handful of princesses in front of a make-shift princess castle at the school.

Students and sta of Chaparral High School donated $115,000.

Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch donated $198,000. Mountain Vista turned the assembly into a fashion show for their wish kid, 8-year-old Lucy, who has been diagnosed with kidney disease. Lucy was given the fashion show experience with hair and makeup, out t changes and a runway.

Highlands Ranch High School helped 9-year-old Becket’s wish of going to Lake Powell come true. Students and sta donated a total of $37,000.

With his own throne to sit on and a golden crown to wear, Douglas County High School students celebrated 11-year-old Carlos, whose wish is to go to the Virgin Islands. e school do- nated $35,000.

Legend High School put on a memorable week for 10-year-old Andrew who attends a Legend High School feeder school. Andrew has neuromuscular disorder and his wish is to go to Disney World. e school donated $132,000.

STEM Highlands Ranch donated $11,500 and also helped their featured wish kid, Colton, an 8-year-old with a nervous system disorder go to Disney World.

As Fidel, the 7-year-old feature wish kid for Rock Canyon High School is a fan of the Charlotte Hornets and wants to meet his favorite NBA player, the popular “RC” letters were painted to represent the NBA team. rough wish week events, the school donated $61,000.

Sky View Academy was able to make the wish of 13-year-old Angel - who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor - of having an Xbox come true during the closing ceremony. Sky View Academy donated $15,000.

Renaissance Secondary School donated $4,000 to help Matthew, a 15-year-old with leukemia, reach his wish of going to Hawaii.