Earlier this month, C Spire asked people to dream big for their “Christmas Wish” program. After more than 2,200 wish requests were submitted, the three winners have been announced.
For the friends and family of Josh McIntosh, a 13-year-old Madison teenager battling brain cancer who loves professional football, the wish was simple. A once-in-a-lifetime trip to Super Bowl LII in Minnesota will be McIntosh’s destination to see the biggest sporting event of the year. The staff at Batson Children’s Hospital say that McIntosh’s fight has been an inspiration to them all. Josh says that the best part is that he has the strength to make the trip, and the strength to keep fighting.
“I’m excited about the Super Bowl trip just because of the fact that I have the strength to go there,” said McIntosh, who has undergone several surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments since being diagnosed with his illness in March. “There are other types of cancer that can kill you, and I know that my cancer can kill me, but it hasn’t. I’m still alive.”
The second winner is Debbie Colligan, a mother of two autistic boys in Hernando. Colligan provides around-the-clock for her two autistic sons. During a recent visit to a C Spire store, Colligan was encouraged to submit an entry in the holiday contest, and wished for funds to help purchase a service dog from Retrieving Freedom to aid one of her sons, Jareth, who suffers from a more severe form of autism.
“My sons have an amazing imagination. They contradict and challenge their diagnosis of autism every day,” Colligan said. “We are so incredibly thankful to C Spire for granting this wish for my son Jareth. I want my boys to do what they are doing right now – smile all the time and be happy. This is truly a blessing.”
The third recipient from the program is 16-year-old KJuan Greer, who saw his mother working as hard as she can to make ends meet and wanted to help buy Christmas gifts for his mom and sister to show his appreciation. The high school junior says he just wanted to see a smile on his mom’s face.
“I just wanted to put a smile on my Mom’s face and let her know how much I love and appreciate her,” Greer said.
His mom, Kasasha Allen was in awe of he son and his desire to see her be happy.
“Just knowing that my son recognizes how hard I work and strive for him – the sacrifices – so that he can live a better life is a special blessing to me,”
CEO of C Spire, Hu Meena, says that the company is proud to play a part in changing lives.
“As a company that gets its inspiration from our customers, we were amazed by the incredible stories of everyday hard-working people courageously and valiantly striving to help their families and the people they love,” Meena said. “We have the best customers in the world and we’re honored to play a small role in helping change lives for a few of them at this special time of year.”
In addition to the three recipients of the Chrismas Wish program, C Spire also made a $10,000 contribution to Extra Table, a Hattiesburg-based non-profit that partners with Sysco, the nation’s largest food distribution company, to supply community food pantries and soup kitchens in Mississippi with healthy food to feed the poor.
