Make-A-Wish Convoy for Kidz brings events and funds for children facing critical illness

The Somerset County community will participate in Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia's 11th annual Convoy for Kidz June 8 at 707 Georgian Place, North Center Avenue.

Registration opens at 9 a.m.

This event raises necessary funds to grant life-changing wishes for children in Somerset County facing critical illnesses. Attendees can look forward to a family-friendly event complete with food, vendors, a basket raffle, live entertainment and more.

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"Everyone who registers at $60 per vehicle, can participate in the Convoy which leaves from Georgian Place," said Stephanie Pugliese, director of development, Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, in an email. "The route takes the convoy through Somerset County and returns back to Georgian Place."

The convoy will depart at 3 p.m. and turn left onto North Center Avenue. It will turn right onto Main Street (Route 31 West), then left on Harrison Avenue and again on Patriot Street. It will follow Patriot Street to Plank Road, where the convoy will pick up at Route 219 North. It will take Route 219 North one exit to the Somerset Walmart exit and head back to Georgian Place. Vehicles are welcome to disperse at the end of Route 219 if they do not wish to go back to the staging area.

"Last year we had about 75 vehicles participate in the convoy – this includes trucks, motorcycles, pickups and cars –but most of the vehicles are trucks," Pugliese said. "People do line the streets to wave at the convoy as it goes by."

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Although not required for attendance, the community is invited to show its support for Wish kids in two additional ways:

• Register your vehicle: Decorate your car, truck, motorcycle or any motorized vehicle and cruise alongside other community members in support of wishes. Registration is open now, but the vehicle driver raising the most funds will lead the convoy.

• Become a sponsor: Sponsorship offers the chance to make a real difference in the lives of local Wish kids. Every dollar raised goes toward granting wishes and bringing joy to local children when they need it most. Register a vehicle or become a sponsor at wish.org/greaterpawv/convoyforkidz. "Spectators come out to Georgian Place to enjoy the festivities – purchase tickets for the basket raffle and/or T-shirts, participate in the live auction, get food, listen to the band and see all of the vehicles," Pugliese said. "It is a fun day for the community. And all to help fund wishes."

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Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia is a nonprofit that creates life-changing wishes for children ages 2? to 18 with critical illnesses. The local chapter is one of the most active in the country, having fulfilled more than 21,000 wishes. For information, call Make-A-Wish at 800-676-9474 or visit wish.org/greaterpawv.

Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards and borough councils. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Make-A-Wish Convoy for Kidz brings fun events and funds for children