Layne Mahaffey

Gavin ends the assembly by hitting the tam-tam to celebrate finishing his chemotherapy.

Students dressed in white filled the bleachers at Rocky Mountain High School to celebrate their fifth wish week and support their “wish kid” Gavin who is a brain cancer survivor and hopes to go to Disney World.

Some of Gavin’s favorite things are penguins, baseball, the colour orange, and playing games with his brothers. During this assembly students did many activities based around these interests that included Gavin and his family.

Gavin got to meet the Rocky Mountain high school baseball team and was given a jersey, hat, and a signed baseball from them. He also got to practice batting with administration dressed in penguin costumes.

One of Gavin’s favorite games, Mario Kart, was put up on big screens in the gymnasium and Gavin and his brothers got to race with Mr. Dean in front of the crowd.

Gavin just completed chemotherapy and was able to ring the tam-tam at the assembly while students rang bells in support of Gavin’s accomplishment.

Rocky is doing “wish week” through the week of February 9. This week will include spirit days where students dress up in a certain theme. Monday is Disney Day, Tuesday is Twin Day, Wednesday is Orange Out, Thursday is Baseball Out, and Friday is Penguin Day.

Senior Delaney Beveridge said, “I like the spirit days because they are a fun way to connect to the Rocky community and be a part of the spirit at my school.”

Throughout this week students will also raise money in their homerooms, as they try to reach their goal of $18,000 for Gavin. Things like change drives, raffles, and eating at certain restaurants will help the students meet this goal.

At the assembly, students also did $50 Friday where a random teacher’s name was called and $50 was donated to their class money jar for “wish week.” Mr. O’Grady’s class won.

Senior Callie Richardson said her favorite way to raise money during wish week is the raffles.

“I liked the raffles because it is a fun competition and you can get something fun out of it while also raising money.”

Wish Fest was also a way students raised money for Gavin. Wish Fest included dancing, games, food, and friends. Students were able to buy tickets for WIsh Fest and the funds were donated to the “wish week” collection

Other activities like Mickey Mouse “ear tag,” LEGO stacking, and trivia related to Gavin and “wish week” were played at the assembly to get everyone excited for the upcoming events throughout the week.

“The assembly was very wholesome and got me excited for the rest of the week,” sophomore Ruby Harper said.

Some other things at the assembly were a cheer performance, the national anthem performed by former “wish kid” and Rocky student Hannah Barquero, and students favorite cheer “roller coaster” was done to hype the crowd and to show Gavin and his family Rocky’s school spirit.

This will be Rocky’s 5th year supporting Make-A-Wish Colorado. Over the past four years Rocky has raised over $81,000 helping the community around them and making many wishes come true.

UPDATE: Final total for Wish Week was $20,884.30, making Rocky’s five year total to Make-A-Wish Colorado $102,442.10. Thanks ‘Bos for all your support!