Make-A-Wish Gets Crafty With West Hartford Teen's Love of Water

WEST HSRTFORD — Make-A-Wish Connecticut recently granted the wish of 19-year-old West Hartford resident John Doar to have a Jet Ski.

Doar is a 19-year-old college student battling cancer. When he is not in the hospital or receiving treatments, Doar can be found outside with family and friends. Football, bike rides and swimming are all frequent activities, but at the top of his list of favorites are water sports. Doar loves anything involving water and has ridden personal water craft since he was very young.

It was actually after water craft accident several years ago that Doar discovered he had cancer, Make-A-Wish officials said. Rather than looking at the event as a tragedy, Down attributes the accident to saving his life.

Make-A-Wish officials said that, when Doar returned home from school in Texas, he was surprised with his Jet Ski at Bertera Subaru in Hartford. Bertera Subaru raised more than $60,000 during its 2020 Share the Love event, then adopted Doar's wish and hosted his wish reveal with staff and leadership present. That was a bit of a coincidence, since Doar John purchased his first car at Bertera Subaru during a Share The Love event.

He used that very car to tow his Jet Ski home.

Doar said he is thrilled with his blue — John's favorite color — Kawasaki Jet Ski. In fact, he eagerly jumped on the craft as if he was ready to take it for a spin out on the water at the dealership.

"Just last weekend I took it out for its maiden voyage around a lake in upstate New York. Everyone was shocked that Make-A-Wish was able to get their hands on a brand-new Jet Ski," he said. He added time on the Jet Ski will allow him to forget about all things medical and just enjoy his time on the open water with his friends and family.