Week 3: Story Idea
My neighbor and I struck up a conversation at the dog park the other day. It turns out his sister and brother-in-law started a non-profit called Dreams of a Lifetime. The whole concept behind the organization parallels to that of Make a Wish, but this particular one grants wishes to cancer patients who are 18 years old or older. Both of his parents died of cancer when he was younger, and since then, his brother-in-law quit his job to pursue the Dreams of a Lifetime cause.
Last year, T.J., a 21-year-old former college football player from St. Augustine, wanted a chance to meet Urban Meyer and some of the Gator football players and make it to New York City to see the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center. T.J. had been diagnosed with brain cancer while his wife was pregnant with their first child. Dreams of a Lifetime was not only able to make that meeting and trip happen, but they also gave him a chance to practice with the players. My neighbor said that the man’s story impacted Meyer so much so that, when he passed away shortly after their meeting, Meyer drove to St. Augustine for his funeral.
I’d like to learn more about this organization and what they are planning on for the future. It might be a great feature article piece for the person they are trying to make a dream come true for next.
I’d talk to Jason and Allison Carilli, who are in charge of the whole operation, to figure out more about their purpose with Dreams of Lifetime, what wishes they are trying to grant next and how they look to get more people involved. I know they put their organization up on Facebook as part of an effort to get people to donate to their cause. I would see how effective this campaign is and what they hope to accomplish from reaching out to a younger crowd.
I’d also contact some of the families of people who were previously granted a dream and how this type of thing may have affected them during their illness. I’d also try to get information on people who are in the process of getting their wishes granted.
It might be a touchy subject to talk with some about, but the whole concept of the idea is great. It would be a feel-good feature story about people who are doing something great with their lives to help out others who aren’t as fortunate in doing something they never thought possible.
