25th convoy goes over the top

The giant shopping cart from Family Owned Markets was a big hit at the 25th Annual Make-A-Wish Mother’s Day Convoy

Sunday’s Make-A-Wish Convoy reached new heights as it rolled through Ephrata. Or at least that was the expectation.
Early this week, the organization’s special events manager Christine Dombrosky said the convoy has raised just under $5 million over 24 years. This year, she’s hoping to hit that $5 million milestone with a goal of $350,000.
Final numbers weren’t in at press time, but the folks at Make-A-Wish office in Lancaster seemed confident that the goal was within reach.
“Our goal has always been the sky is the limit,” Dombrosky said. “We’re proud of the $5 million.”
The total amount raised will be known in mid-June, she said. Last year, the convoy brought in $307,000 for the Make-A-Wish Philadelphia and Susquehanna Valley Chapter.
In 1988, a young man named Matt requested a wish to ride in an 18 wheeler and speak to his sister on a CB radio. Over 40 trucks and drivers showed up to grant the wish and the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy was conceived. For the past 24 years, the event has been held on Mother’s Day in Lancaster. Over the years the number of trucks has grown to as many as 450 with over 100 wish children as passengers. The event draws approximately 5,000 people that come to see the trucks, attend an auction, play games and enjoy good food.
In 2003 the convoy set the Guinness World Record for “The World’s Longest Truck Convoy” with 288 trucks, and the very next year they broke their own record with 391 trucks participating.
Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories, on average, every 38 minutes. The organization believes that a wish experience can be a game-changer.

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