by Nick Drew | Mon 23 Feb 2015
Aaron’s JCB wish comes true
A heart-warming story has reached us at the Digger Man Blog about Seventeen-year-old Aaron Price from Stoke Gifford, Bristol who has had his wish of a lifetime to visit the JCB factory in Staffordshire granted by Starlight Children’s Foundation, the national charity that grants wishes of a lifetime for seriously and terminally ill children.
Aaron was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was just four months old and has also recently been diagnosed with CF related Diabetes. Aaron has put up with so much in life already including constant hospital visits, taking lots of medication and undergoing daily physiotherapy to keep his lungs clear yet he remains happy, caring, loving and always shows concern for others.
He has always been interested in diggers, lorries, tractors and any heavy goods vehicles and would love to one day own one of his own. Aaron is captivated by models of vehicles and collects them at any opportunity.
When Aaron was referred to Starlight it didn’t take him long to choose his Starlight wish because the one thing he had always wanted to do was to visit the JCB factory in Rocester, near Uttoxeter, so he could see JCB's world-famous diggers close-up and learn about how they were manufactured.
Starlight set about granting Aaron’s wish straight away and contacted JCB to see if they could help and they were delighted to be able to do so agreeing to grant Aaron’s wish to coincide with his seventeenth birthday.
Starlight arranged for Aaron and his family, dad Richard, mum Helen and sister Laura to stay at the Hilton Hotel St Georges Park – a luxury hotel located near the JCB factory and when the family arrived they found Aaron’s room was filled with chocolates and balloons and the Hilton also upgraded the family to an Executive suite.
The following day the family set of for the JCB factory and we were met by Visits Coordinator Caroline Hall and tour guide, John Smith.
Photographs were taken of Aaron and his family in front of one of JCB’s latest Fastrac models that was parked outside the visitors centre. Aaron loved being able to climb inside and was amazed by its interior, apparently Aaron rides tractors at college – but nothing to match this scale and technology!
After having photographs taken, everyone went into an auditorium to watch a video on the history of JCB and the Bamford family and then had a tour of JCB's permanent exhibition which gives visitors an insight into the manufacturing roots of JCB. Although Aaron was very quiet, he was taking it all in and asked lots of interesting questions.
The highlight of Aaron’s visit was the walk-through round the factory floor. Aaron was given a high viz vest and protective goggles and was taken along the assembly line where he was able to see exactly how JCB’s were manufactured.
After our tour was over, the family was kindly treated to a three course lunch & the catering staff had also made Aaron a birthday cake! Aaron and his sister Laura were also gifted with JCB goody bags.
The following day Aaron and family visited a model shop in Birmingham and to complete Aaron’s Starlight wish he was able to choose a remote controlled model truck. Aaron has been building the model since he received it and is hoping to have it completed very soon.
Afterwards, Aaron’s dad Richard said, “Aaron’s dream really did come and he couldn’t have imagined having a better time!”
If you would like to refer a child for a wish or to make a donation, please go online at www.starlight.org.uk. For every £1 you donate, 93p goes towards helping Starlight’s very ill children.