Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 94

10 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2002 DemocratandChronicle.com OUR TOWNS, GREECE RECREATION NOTES Victors dominates Leatherstocking The Level 7 team took first place and the Level 5 team took third place for Victors Gymnastics and Cheerleading Training Center last month at the 19th annual Leatherstocking Invitational Meet in Utica, Oneida County. Competing at Level 4, in the 6- through 8-year-old age group, Jessica Madigan of Greece took third place on floor exercise. In the 11-and-older age group, Jade Frankchuk of Rochester placed first on vault. Competing at Level 5, in the 9- through 11-year-old age group, Caitlin Fager of Rochester placed third all-around, with a first-place finish on uneven parallel bars. Irs WW fat hi LL-im.

Five-year-old Markwan Granville received a Buffalo Bills uniform when his wish was granted in October, and he is still wearing ANNETTE LE1N start' photographer the uniform at home every day. Fulfilling hopes and granting wishes through the years Allison Freeman of Rochester took third place on balance beam. in tne 12-and-older age group, Nicole Schmitz of Rochester took first place all around, taking first on floor and second on beam. Karylin Coleman of Hilton took second place all-around, with a first-place finish on beam and third place on vault. Elizabeth Steenhoff of Greece placed first on vault.

Meghan Clark of Greece took third place on bars. Competing at Level 7, in the 9- through 11-year-old age group, Lindsay Sturnick of Greece took second place all-around, with a first-place finish on vault and second place on floor. Lisa Stefanik of Greece took third place all-around and on vault and beam. In the 12- and 13-year-old age group, Nikki Morabito of Greece placed first all-around, taking first place on bars and third on floor. Heather Hawes of Greece took second place all-around and and bars, and had a first-place finish on beam Paige Wray of Hilton placed third all-around and on vault, bars and beam.

Competing in the 13- and 14 year-old age group, Stefanie Ventura of Hilton took first place all-around, with a second' place finish on bars and a third- place finish on vault. Erin Duffy of Hilton finished third all-around, with a first- place finish on bars. Kayleigh Moriarty of Hilton placed second on floor and third on beam. Jessica Frisbee of Hilton placed first on floor and second on vault. Penev boys take top spot in meet The Penev boys gymnastics compulsory team earned the first-place team award at the Coaches Classic 2002 in Syra cuse earlier this month.

Competing at Level 7 in the 8- and 9-year-old age group, Joseph Zwierlein of Rochester won first place all-around, tak ing first place on floor exercise, pommel horse and parallel bars, second place on vault and third place on high bar. Jacob Richard of Rochester took third place on still rings. Competing in the 10- and u-year-old age group, Daniel FleiS' cher of Rochester placed second all-around, taking first place on pommel horse, rings and paral lel bars and second place on floor and high bar. Competing at Level 6 in the 7- through 9-year-old age group, Thomas Reidy of Webster won first place on floor and third place on high bar. Competing at Level 5 in the 12-and-up age group, Adam Marou of Webster won first place all-around, with first-place finishes on floor, pommel horse, rings and parallel bars and sec ond place on high bar.

Competing at Level 4 in the 12-and-up age group, Seth Pens-gen of Fairport placed third all- around, and first on vault, sec The Make-A-Wish Foundation noted these events among the highlights in its history. April 1980: Chris Greicius gets his wish to be a police officer. 1980: Make-A-Wish concept is created to serve other Arizona children. The "Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Memorial" is incorporated. 1981: Frank "Bopsy" Salazar's wish to be a fireman, ride in a hot air balloon and go to Disneyland is granted as the first for an incorporated nonprofit organization.

The organization's name is changed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 1982: NBC's Douglas Kiker features the Make-A-Wish Foundation on NBC Magazine. At the That's until she was approached by hospital staff and asked if she'd be interested in applying for a wish for her son. When Make-A-Wish staffers learned her other son, Brett, also suffers from a similar heart condition, they encouraged both to apply. "Brett knew right away what he wanted," Leslie Regoord said.

"He wanted to go to a Super Bowl or to the Pro Bowl." A year ago, the family spent six days in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, courtesy of Make-A-Wish. "They paid for absolutely everything," Regoord said. "Before we left, they handed us envelopes with money and marked what each envelope was for. They thought of everything, from tips for the limo drivers to lunch and dinner money. They even developed the film we took on our trip.

We didn't have to worry about a thing. Make-A-Wish took care of every little detail." And for the Regoords, that was a nice break. "It seems like for years, while other families were going on summer vacations, our vacations were spent at the Mayo Clinic, where the boys had their surgeries, Regoord said. "Make-A-Wish has given us this wonderful opportunity to do and see things we normally wouldn't get a chance to. It's wonderful to have a family trip that's about having fun and not about having surgeries." How wishes come true The Make-A-Wish Foundation is steadfast in its commitment to the wish-granting mission, and attributes its success to fiscal responsibility and volunteers.

The average cost of a wish is $5,000. In 2000, the national organi Wishin' FROM PAGE IF mother and several of the police officers who made his wish possible decided to help other children get wishes granted. They formed the Chris Gre-icius Make-A-Wish Memorial, which later was changed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In its 22 years, Make-A-Wish has gone international, with 80 chapters in this country and 20 chapters around the world. The local chapter opened an office in Buffalo 10 years ago and field office in Rochester in 1995.

To date, it has granted wishes to children in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Seneca, Yates, Schuyler, Chemung, Steuben, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. "And we hope to grant our 750th wish by the end of our fiscal year this summer," said John Merino, president and CEO of the local group. Wishes are granted to children diagnosed with a wide range of medical problems. "A common misconception is that Make-A-Wish only grants wishes to children who are terminally ill," Merino said. "That isn't correct.

Make-A-Wish is for any child between the ages of 2 12 and 18 who have a life-threatening illness. In some cases, some of our Wish Kids are terminally ill. But there are also many others who aren't, but have a condition that restricts them from living a full, normal life." Regoord is an example of that. The teen who made his wish when he was 17 was born with a congenital heart condition that limits the flow of oxygen throughout his body, said his mother, Leslie Regoord. "To look at him, you would never know he had any problems," she said.

"But if he overexerts himself, he becomes very short of breath, which obviously limits what he can do physically." While Paul Regoord enjoys golf and music, his condition, which to date has required seven surgeries, has limited his participation in sports, but not his enthusiasm. He's hoping his trip to Salt Lake City with his mother, father, Paul, and 14-year-old brother, Brett will provide a chance to see hockey and figure skating. Like many, Leslie Regoord had always thought Make-A-Wish was for children with terminal illnesses. One boy's STAFF REPORTS Seven-year-old Christopher James Greicius shared with a family friend his dream of be coming a police officer. That dream inspired the for mation of the Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Memorial, known today as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the largest wish-granting organization in the world.

Chris was battling leukemia and his prognosis wasn't good. A family friend was so cap tivated by the boy's dream that he set out to make it come true. How Make-A-Wish spends each dollar Of each dollar spent by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York in fiscal year 2001, 85 cents was spent on the Foundation's mission, granting wishes. Functional allocation of expenses 1 Management Fund raising I and general 8 7 85 Program services SOURCE: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New Vork. JOHN DEHAAS staff artist of when she rode in a pumpkin coach, and called room service and ordered ice cream so she could make sundaes with the girls.

Two days later, Meghan, her mother, father, Jim Brown, and sister Savanah, 6, flew to Disney World in Orlando, to meet Cindeiella. (Meghan's other sister, Emily, 2, stayed behind.) Meghan spent her fourth birthday at Disney World having breakfast with Cinderella. "It was the most memorable experience of our lives," her mother said. Lisa Brown said in the five days they were there, her family didn't have to worry about a single thing. "This isn't something we would have been able to do, but Make-A-Wish took care of everything for us," Brown said.

"And with the money Make-A-Wish gave Meghan for her birthday, she bought herself a (princess) gown." Brown said her daughter still talks about her trip. "If you could have seen the look on Meghan's face, you would understand why I say we were given a gift, Brown said. "And for that, Make-A-Wish will always have a special place in our hearts." Paul Regoord has been so impressed with Make-A-Wish's treatment of him that he has decided to become a wish grantor as soon as he's old enough. "I think I'll be good at it because I have a different perspective than most, because I know what it's like to be a Wish Kid," he said. "And I know firsthand how important Make-A-Wish is." For more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, click on www.wish.org www.wish.orgwny One officer came to the hospital and gave Chris his new motorcycle wings, which had been made especially for him by a local jeweler.

On May 3, Chris died. As the first and only honorary state trooper in Arizona history, Chris was given a police funeral with full honors. Within months, his mother and the officers touched by Chris' life became founding board members of the Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Memorial. A year later, the name was changed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. grant wishes.

1990: First Celebrity Wish Grantor of the Year Award is given to Olympic gold medalist skater Scott Hamilton. Foundation grants its wish. 1993: For the first time, more than 5,000 wishes are granted in one year. 1996: American Airlines sponsors the first annual Wish Flight, a six-day, all-expenses-paid vacation to Florida for 20 children and their families. 1997: It grants its wish a child's wish to be a cowboy is fulfilled.

1999: It grants 8,188 wishes, the most ever in one year. 2000: Foundation celebrates 20 years and 80,000 wishes. watching a practice, going onto the field before a game, getting pictures taken with players, and watching the game from the executive suite. He also received a Buffalo Bills uniform in his size, complete with a jersey, helmet, pads, cleats and a football. "He still talks about it and wears his uniform every single day, from the time he gets home from school to the time he goes to bed," Martin said.

"And he really thinks he's part of the team." Princess dreams Four-year-old Meghan Brown of Chili was diagnosed with leukemia in 1999 and has spent the past two years in treatment, finishing up in December. "But it's been a long two years for all of us," said her mother, Lisa Brown. She learned about Make-A-Wish from a nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital, and Meghan was approached by Make-A-Wish last spring. "We were holding our breath because we didn't know what she was going to ask for," Brown said. Then came her wish: To ride in Cinderella's pumpkin coach.

Unfortunately, Disney World has a policy against pumnkin coach rides. "So we did what we thought was the next best thing," Werner said. Meaghan wanted to meet a real princess, so Make-A-Wish arranged for Meghan and another Wish Kid to. meet Sarah Ferguson when she was in Buffalo on business, even though the Duchess of York was never a princess and is no longer married to Britain's Prince Andrew. She brought the girls gifts, showed them wedding pictures After delivering the custom-made uniform, the officers took Chris out to his driveway, where they had set up a motorcycle obstacle course.

Chris who sat on the battery-operated motorcycle his mother had bought to replace his wheelchair drove the course and earned his wings. The following day, Chris was hospitalized. He hung his uniform in the window and put his motorcycle helmet and "Smokey the Bear" hat on his dresser so he could see them. time, the foundation had granted a total of eight wishes. After the broadcast, it receives hundreds of calls asking to start new chapters around the country and in Canada.

1983: Ronald Reagan grants the first presidential wish, when an Arizona Wish Kid lights the national Christmas tree. Make-A-Wish Foundation of America is incorporated on May 13 to oversee the many chapters across the country. 1984: Twenty-two official Make-A-Wish chapters are established, bringing the total number of chapters to 28. 1989: Make-A-Wish Foundation International is created. Eight National Football League teams zation reported that 83 cents of every dollar spent went to granting wishes.

That is well above the average of most charities, many of which strive for about 75 cents 0 each dollar being spent on their agency's mission, Merino said. And it's getting even better. While no national numbers were available yet from fiscal year 2001, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York reported that in 2001, 85 cents of every dollar went for granting wishes. "That's very good," Merino said. "But much of our success locally and nationally is because of the committed volunteers we have working for us, which number more than 20,000 around the world, and the incredible in-kind donations we receive from our supporters.

Those donations range from donated disposable cameras to time donated by the celebrities our Wish Kids wish to meet. The support we receive is truly tremendous." Fan's fantasy fulfilled Markwan Granville, 5, of Rochester, went into kidney failure just before his second birthday and must now take anti-rejection medication for the kidney that was transplanted into his tiny body. His wish was to be a Buffalo Bill for a weekend. "He's a sports fanatic," said his mother, Tasha Martin. "He loves all sports but he's a big, big football fan, and even has his own touchdown dance when his team scores." Markwan's wish was granted in October.

He and his mother were driven by limousine to Buffalo for a weekend that included breakfast with the Buffalo Bills, custom-tailor a highway patrolman uniform for Chris. On May 1, several officers showed up at his home to present him with the uniform But the day didn't stop there. Chris idolized the characters Jon and Ponch from the television series CHiPs, a show about two motorcycle-riding California highway patrolmen. On his visit a few days earlier, Chris noticed wings on an officer's uniform and wanted to know how he could get some. He was told he needed to pass a "motorcycle proficiency test." dream inspired a national foundation ond on high bar and third on parallel bars.

REGISTRATION The Chili Cubs will host baseball tryouts for ages 13 to 15 for the Monroe County Babe Ruth League from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Battery, 1520 Spencerport Road in Gates. A copy of the player's birth certificate is required. For details, call (585) 247-1951. FOR CHARITY The fourth annual Cancer Action Walk for Wellness will be held Sunday at The Mall at Greece Ridge Center.

The two-mile indoor walk can be completed between 9 a.m. and noon. Call (585) 423-9700. STAFF REPORTS On April 29, 1980, Chris was given a ride in an Arizona Department of Public Safety police helicopter that flew him over the Phoenix area. When the chopper landed, three squad cars and a motorcycle greeted him.

Chris was made an honorary patrolman that day and was given the nickname the Bubble Gum Trooper after sharing a pack of gum with an officer. Media coverage caught the attention of the company that made the highway patrol uniforms, and the owner and two seamstresses worked all night to.