Make-A-Wish Takes Manahawkin Boy To Hawaii

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Lucas was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago. After several treatments, bone marrow aspirations and 22 spinal taps with chemo, Lucas got to say "Aloha" to a dream come true: a family trip to Hawaii.

During treatment, Lucas lost his immune system and needed constant trips to the hospital and emergency room. He missed his little brother, Jared, so much each time, Jennifer said.

"He missed being a 'normal' kid," Jennifer said.

But he faced the fears and anxieties of the illness with courage and determination. Years later, Lucas and his family got to have some fun. Make-A-Wish New Jersey took them on vacation to Maui.

The trip began with a limousine ride to the airport. Lucas and his brother were ecstatic. They never rode in a limo before.

Lucas particularly wanted to participate in zip-lining. His family was nervous at first, but the guides in Maui put them at ease.

“They made our entire group feel more relaxed,” said Jennifer, his mother. “We had so much fun and laughed a ton, as our guides were hysterical.”

Lucas's vacation also included a catamaran snorkeling trip at Molokini, an underwater volcanic crater, and enjoying the warm sun and ocean air of Maui.

Jersey Mike's Subs supported the trip through its annual "Month of Giving" campaign. Sixty-seven Jersey Mike's locations raised funds for Make-A-Wish New Jersey last March.

The restaurants participated in a "Day of Giving" that month, when Jersey Mike's restaurants donated 100 percent of the day's sales to charitable causes. They raised $450,000 — enough to grant nearly 50 wishes to kids like Lucas.

“We had so much fun, and we were able to relax and bond as a family," Jennifer said. "All of the pressures of daily life were left at home, and we were able to be carefree."

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