It was the most beneficial traffic jam of the year. A convoy of 380 trucks rolled through central Pennsylvania on Mother’s Day, May 10, raising more than $300,000 for the Philadelphia, Northern Delaware & Susquehanna Valley chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The annual Mother’s Day Convoy is the primary fund-raiser for the foundation that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. It started 26 years ago when a young boy asked to ride in a truck and talk on the CB radio. More than 40 truckers responded, and the charity event has grown steadily ever since.
Approximately 100 Make-A-Wish children rode along with truckers in the convoy this year. Other trucks were decorated with pictures of children who’ve been helped by the foundation. Many truckers, who raise their own funds for the event, return year after year. This year’s total of 380 trucks is 45 more than last year. The exact amount raised will not be known until truckers have turned in their pledges by June 15. The amount raised typically grants wishes for 30 to 35 children.
“The 26th Annual Mother’s Day Truck Convoy was a big success,” said Paulette Battenfelder, Make-A-Wish Regional Executive Director. “Not only does the convoy provide the funds to continue our mission, but the energy of the event inspires and motivates us to continue to provide wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.”
Approximately 6,000 spectators lined the 28-mile route and then attended the festival at the business park where the convoy begins and ends. This year’s convoy was, for the first time, sponsored by the RoadPro family of brands, which is headquartered in nearby Palmyra. RoadPro, parent of such travel-related brands as Wilson, RoadKing, PowerDrive and MobileSpec, donated $20,000 to the cause.
“Make-A-Wish does wonderful work and sponsoring the Mother’s Day Truck Convoy is a chance to help the charity fulfill the dreams of local families contending with the illness of a child,” said Chuck White, Vice President, Brands & Marketing, DAS Companies, Inc., the parent company of RoadPro. “We are honored to partner with them.”
Thanks go out to everyone involved. The amount of money raised is astounding and awesome, and the kids who benefit from this will surely make good use of it. We hope it helps ease their pain a little and gives them a great day – that hopefully leads to many more!