Magee said his son had been a star athlete, and to face the idea that he would be in a wheelchair by the time he was in his 20s was more than the family could bear. It was a trying time, he said, and will continue to be.
But Make-A-Wish was a bright spot.
Make-A-Wish is an organization that helps children with life-threatening illnesses have their wildest dreams come true, said spokesperson Jane Walsh. And the group that gathered at the State Room on Thursday night was there to begin the gear up for the October Walk for Wishes 5K fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, and therefore help make those dreams a reality.
"It's about hope, strength and joy," Walsh said. "That's what we try to do for these families. It's all a great tool to help these kids to continue to deal with what they're dealing with. You can't put into words the good we do."
Walsh told the group about different wishes the organization has granted for children just in Mississippi - more than 80 last year. She said there had been wishes for everything from a trip to Disney World to the Atlanta Braves games, to Chad Magee's wish to have a truck refurbished with a paint job, rims and a stereo system.
One little boy wanted nothing more than to ride a horse, and another just wanted swimming lessons, she said.
"And it all boils down to what you're doing here," she told the team representatives.
The team members received their packets to help them begin the fundraising for the October 24 event, which is Brookhaven's sixth annual. The Walk for Wishes raised $20,000 last year.
When you consider that a child's wish averages a cost of $5,000, that's not bad, Walsh said.
The event takes place on Oct. 24 at the Exchange Club Park, and team members will be asked to raise $100 each for the walk in order to get a T-shirt. Walsh said there is a usual average of about 10 members per team, but they can be as large or as small as they want.
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