An impressive team of sharp shooting wish kids, including Cayleb Poirier from Aldergrove, comprised the Make-A-Wish Dream Team in the 10th annual EA Challenge for Make-A-Wish. This is a fun one-day exclusive event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC & Yukon, on Sunday, March 4.
The Electronic Arts Campus played host to local sports stars, Electronic Arts staff, celebrities, media and corporate sponsors, who bravely accepted the challenge to take on the Dream Team in EA Sports NHL and FIFA games on Xbox 360.
Seven-year-old Aldergrove wish kid Cayleb Poirier was psyched to be part of the Dream Team for this year’s challenge.
At just three and a half years old, Cayleb was diagnosed with leukemia. His first year of treatment was rough, not to mention the constant travelling four days a week from Aldergrove to B.C. Children’s hospital in Vancouver.
Happily, the long treatment schedule has concluded and Cayleb is checked monthly now.
A year ago, Cayleb’s wish to Walt Disney World was granted by Make-A-Wish. Having never been on an airplane before, every aspect of his week-long wish was a thrill. From meeting his favourite Toy Story characters to riding Space Mountain five times, it was a week he’ll never forget.
For his mom, Eleanor, seeing him be his old self again – singing, laughing and not being scared – was something she hadn’t seen much of over the past two years.
Cayleb’s passion for hockey got him invited onto the Dream Team. An avid Vancouver Canucks fan, he’s been playing video games for the past three years and is currently “in training” — practicing for two hours a day.
After dealing with cancer, Cayleb is not allowed to play physical sports like hockey or soccer.
“This is why the EA Challenge is so important to kids like Cayleb,” said Ross Hetherington, executive director of Make-A-Wish BC.
“Cancer has made it unsafe for him to participate in sports. This event puts wish kids back in the games that they love, just in a different way. We thank Electronic Arts for making this day possible for our kids.”
Cayleb’s Dream Team was up against some serious competition in the form of B.C. Lions Travis Lulay, Angus Reid, Geroy Simon, Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit and others.
Wish kids, their families and participants were given exclusive access to many of the latest video games not yet released to the public, as well as unlimited play time in EA’s video game arcade, all in an exclusive Make-A-Wish open house to a studio which is normally closed to the public. There were also Rock Band and other games galore, as well as plenty of food and prizes to make sure the day was one the kids will not soon forget.
Since 1983, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of B.C. & Yukon has made almost 1,500 wishes come true for kids battling a life-threatening medical condition. For more information visit www.makeawishbc.ca