It’s official…..Clay Walker is our champion for the most wishes ever granted to Western Wishes kids!

Western Wishes owes a debt of gratitude to Clay Walker for going above and beyond a simple-meet-and-greet experience and a photo op to making memories of a lifetime for kids faced with adversity.

Maybe it’s his own adversity, battling day to day with MS, coupled with a great heart and love of God, that sets him apart from so many celebrities. Maybe it’s that he is a true cowboy, and that cowboy spirit gives him the edge to make a difference in the lives of Western Wishes kids.

Anyway you look at it, much like our inspiring Western Wishes kids, Clay Walker is an ambassador of hope to the western culture, country music and beyond.

Our first Western Wishes experience with Clay was back in 2008, when he lifted the spirits of Jessica by meeting her at Billy Bob’s Texas.  At 21, Jessica was in and out of the hospital battling Cystic Fibrosis.  As her mother, Monica, says, “we are just keeping her well enough until they find a cure.”  Ten years prior, Jessica got to meet George Strait at his annual roping on her 12^th birthday.

At Clay Walker’s dynamic concert at Billy Bob’s, that was when Western Wishes knew there was something special about this country star. For years before that, it seemed there was never a concert and wish kid to match up with Clay.  But when we finally got to host a wish, Clay quickly realized that Western Wishes was about lifting spirits and rewarding kids for their fight, and was there for those faced with the long road to recovery.

In 2009, Clay was in concert during the National Finals Rodeo at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. Again, he graciously met three kids there. Marcella, from Tennessee was kicked in the head and had the shoe print of the horse on her forehead to prove it.  Miraculously she recovered from a blow to the head that could have been fatal or damaging to her brain. She loved barrel racing, competing in high school rodeo, and was thrilled to have lunch with world champion barrel racer, Lindsey Sears. Attending the concert and a personal meeting with was the icing on the cake!

Clay also met Matt, from California, another high school rodeo kid.  Attending college and on the rodeo team, Matt was driven to make a difference in other kid’s lives, living with an inoperable brain tumor that has the potential to evolve into a malignancy.  “His attitude is amazing” says president and founder, Donnalyn Quintana.  “He actually cares about others more than his situation.”  Western Wishes strives to continue relationships with former wish kids so they might pay it forward to others, like Matt.

Another Western Wishes recipient, TJ, was struggling to beat leukemia.  He was hit so hard with chemo that he had to wear leg braces, and equally hit hard with radiation, resulting in painful blisters on his face. Quiet and unassuming, TJ’s spirits were lifted when he got to attend Clays concert with a special meeting with him.  It was touching to see how Clay was concerned about that young man, asking Donnalyn about his prognosis.  At that time it was not good, but Western Wishes is happy to announce that TJ is now in remission!

On to Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2010:  This was one of the moments that Western Wishes will never forget.  Hannah, from Colorado, was battling a very serious stage-4 brain tumor.  At 7 years old, she was thrilled to meet Clay.  She knew his songs, but most of all, Hannah was impressed that he was a roper!  Hannah’s mom, Ryan, was a college rodeo competitor and had beaten cancer in her 20’s and was a good roper as well.

At the meet-and-greet before the concert, Clay’s management reserved a special time for Hannah.  Clay pulled up a stool, grabbed his guitar and serenaded her.  It was the longest meet-and-greet experience that Western Wishes had ever had! Then, at Clay’s dynamic concert, his hit song, “Fall” was dedicated to Hannah, but especially to Ryan as a wish mom, reflecting on anxious moments and the “what ifs” that all moms experience when faced with the possibility of losing a child.  Sadly, two years later, after Hannah beat cancer, her mom lost the battle when her cancer returned.

That was one of the most treasured moments of Western Wishes and Clay Walker was at the center of it.  Ironically, a good friend of Clay’s, world champion all-around cowboy, Joe Beaver, just happened to be Hannah’s favorite rodeo champion as well, and continues to be Hannah’s buddy.

In August of 2013, Clay went above and beyond again to brighten the life of a 16- year-old girl, who was crazy about horses and loved Clay Walker music.  Kelly, from Roseburg, Oregon was mentally challenged and competed in barrel racing with a very determined spirit.

At the Roseburg County Fair, Clay taped an exceptional message for Western Wishes to celebrate the upcoming 20^th anniversary of the program.  Then, at his concert, realizing that Kelly loved his hit song, “What Then,” Clay had her kick out beach balls from the stage into the audience with him for his signature calypso-style song that delights everyone who has seen him in concert.  What a great finale for a great wish from someone with a great heart.

Thank you Clay Walker for turning dreams into lasting memories for our Western Wishes kids and thanks for leaving a legacy of goodwill – the cowboy way!