LUFKIN, TX – Three years ago, Haley Gomez never imagined being able to meet motorcyclists that would make her smile and deliver some great news.
Monday night, she got that experience when a group of bikers pulled up in front of her home with a special package. The group was at the Gomez house by the request of the Make A Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana group.
Three years ago, Gomez was diagnosed with Acute myeloid Leukemia.
“It started to effect my eye,” Gomez said. “I had this spot on my eye that made it look like there were bumps on the ground. I didn’t notice it until I was at school and I was running. I would leap to get over it so i would not fall but there was nothing there. I thought am I going to die? “I didn’t really know what it was but I knew you could get bald and probably die. I was really scared of dying and not be able to see this day.”
When thinking of her wish, Gomez wanted to go to some far of exotic place that would be completely opposite of the pine tree covered area of East Texas. The trip would need to be special since her family’s only ever vacation was ,to visit other family in El Paso. Gomez has a love for fish and fell in love with pictures of white sand beaches and blue water filled with all types of tropical fish.
Once the Lufkin Middle School student’s request was in, Make a Wish started working to raise the funds. The East Texas Motorcycle Enthusiasts, a group of riders that came together to give back to multiple charities, stepped up and started collecting funds.
“We just want to make this special for the kids,” said ETME President Michael ‘Uncky’ Crawford. ” After I did my first one I was hooked. It’s good for the kids. Good for everybody. You can’t explain it. I try to put it into words and there is no words for it.”
Gomez and her family will leave first thing Tuesday morning and fly out of Houston to an island more than 5,000 miles away. Volunteer Courtney Brittain was on hand to give Gomez her itinerary.
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