Boulder Hill Mom Looking for Community Members to Join Son's Make a Wish Race Team

BOULDER HILL, IL — Riley is a 12-year-old boy who’s been in and out of hospitals his entire life.

His mom, Rachel Johnson, of Boulder Hill, noticed there was something wrong with him when he was just a few months old. At about 17 months, he was having difficulty walking and his eyes would randomly cross. Riley was finally diagnosed with Chiari malformation, where the brain extends into the spinal canal. While the condition is not necessarily terminal, it is life-threatening.

“His outlook is amazing. We call him ‘Smiley Riley,'” Rachel said.

Riley, who is a student at Thompson Junior High in Oswego, is even in the process of getting a wish granted through the Make a Wish Foundation. While he’s still mulling it over, his mom believes he’s going to pick an RV trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

“He wants to go dig for diamonds,” Rachel said. “He’s a big Minecraft kid.”

She thinks that could happen sometime next summer.

While Riley waits to have his wish fulfilled, he and his family will take part in the Walk and Run for Wishes being held Sunday in Elk Grove Village.

While they’ve got eight members on their team, they’re hoping for as many as they can get. The walk/run will help raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, which will fund Riley’s trip.

“It would benefit him because he is a Wish Kid,” Rachel said, who’s hoping for a lot of people to join her team.

“We want to show him that there are people that care about him, love him and support him through this journey that he’s on.”

The run/walk will be held Sunday, Sept. 11 at Busse Woods, Grove 5 in Elk Grove Village. Busse Woods is located at the southwest corner of Higgins and Arlington Heights Road. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. There is a $30 registration fee for adults. Children 12 and under are $10.

To join Riley’s team, click here.

photo by Red Maple Photography via Rachel Johnson