Skyline has been making an impact for Make-A-Wish kids’ lives for the past couple of years and this year is no different! With the help of the Skyline community, the SBOs made Rusty Spendlove’s wish of a Caribbean cruise come true. Rusty is a Freshman at Skyline High School who has been diagnosed with BCOR Sarcoma and does online school, which allows him to work from wherever he needs to be. The fundraising for Rusty was open from November 4 to November 20, and Skyline was hoping to fundraise 15,000 dollars. They also did other fundraisers, such as selling Canes at lunch or, mentioning Rusty’s name at check out when going to Chick-Fil-A in Sugarhouse and giving a donation to him. In the end, they were able to fundraise over $16,000. A local company, Grandeur Peak Investments, matched the $16,000, and in the end Skyline and Make-A-Wish raised over $32,000.
Skyline’s Senior Secretary is the person at Skyline in charge of this event. This year it is Elizabeth Holbrook, and encouraged the students to donate money for Rusty. Holbrook believes this project creates a togetherness that is hard to find and that is important for the students. Holbrook said, “Make-A-Wish is important to the Skyline community, because the world reason for getting a good education is so we can learn how to make positive differences in the world and make it a better place.” Holbrook has seen the impact first hand of what Make-A-Wish has done for the kids and community. Holbrook has been an SBO all four years she’s been at Skyline. She has been involved with the activities in one way or another each year and has seen the incredible difference they make in people’s lives. When talking about the Make-A-Wish program and Rusty’s journey, Holbrook said, “My favorite part of Make-A-Wish would be working with Make-A-Wish. This year we are helping by doing something nice for one of Skyline’s own Freshman students who has been through more challenges with cancer than any of us really have any idea. He is so amazing and such a hope and light!”
Like Holbrook said, Rusty is an inspiration to those around him. When Rusty was asked what he was most excited about, he said, “I think it would be really fun to go on a cruise with my family and explore. I am also excited about the food and the adventure of the cruise.” Even though Rusty has had such an incredible attitude and is making the best of the situation, he is still struggling. He said, “The hardest part about treatment is getting up and being exhausted in almost all ways but having to keep working on school and not always having the opportunity of getting to nap.” Although there have been many hard times, Rusty is grateful for everyone who is supporting him and helping him through this time in his life. He said, “It’s been really great and easy having a positive attitude, because I know I have so many people supporting me through this, and I’m very thankful for that.”
