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Pump some iron for Wishing Star

Branden Joiner, 18, listens to Paula Nordgaarden, executive director of Wishing Star Foundation, speak during a brief ceremony. To celebrate the 1,000th wish granted to a child with a life-threatening illness, the group released doves with the help of Joiner, who will receive his wish to go on a fishing trip to Maine. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Laura Umthun Correspondent
Branden Joiner, 18, listens to Paula Nordgaarden, executive director of Wishing Star Foundation, speak during a brief ceremony. To celebrate the 1,000th wish granted to a child with a life-threatening illness, the group released doves with the help of Joiner, who will receive his wish to go on a fishing trip to Maine. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

A Post Falls young adult, who has leukemia, wished she could visit the set of the “Gilmore Girls” in Los Angeles. A 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy wished she could meet Garth Brooks, and a Boise teenager with diabetes wished she could kiss Clay Aiken.

“A wish can be just about anything, from a puppy, a special chance to meet a celebrity, and of course, the No. 1 wish – a family vacation to Disney World,” says Paula Nordgaarden, Executive Director of the Wishing Star Foundation.

Since 1983, the Wishing Star Foundation has provided wishes for children throughout Central and Eastern Washington and Idaho with life-threatening illness. Just recently the foundation granted its 1,000th wish.

“A wish come true is sometimes the best medicine of all for children and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses,” Nordgaarden says.

Since Wishing Star is a nonprofit organization, and is not government or United Way funded, it is dependent on individual gifts, fundraising, donations, grants and memorials.

Last year Tim Eylar, Post Falls World Gym certified Bodypump instructor and national trainer, and Rob Elder, owner of Hot Rod Cafe, began an annual event called Pump in the Parking Lot to help fund Wishing Star Wishes.

Bodypump is an international fitness program that strengthens your entire body using barbells.

Organizers say that approximately 100 people raised $1,200 for the Wishing Star Foundation in 2005.

“Events like Pump in the Parking Lot fund Wishing Star Wishes,” says Nordgaarden. “You cannot put a dollar value on these wishes – real wishes are priceless.”

This year’s Pump event will be at 6 p.m. next Saturday at Post Falls Hot Rod Cafe parking lot. The event is open to the public. Tickets are limited and are currently selling for $15 each for spectators and $20 each for participants. The fundraising goal is $3,000.

Everyone will like the group energy of Pump in the Parking Lot, according to Millie Eylar, Post Falls World Gym group fitness director.

“The energy and enthusiasm, the unique setting of being outdoors, the camaraderie – it really is what group fitness is all about,” she says. All equipment is provided by World Gym so participants just need to wear comfortable clothing.

The ticket price includes a barbecue dinner and chances to win numerous prizes. Pump participants will get a T-shirt and receive a grab bag of retail giveaways from various merchants. A silent auction to raise additional money and a live concert will take place after the event.

“Rob Elder and the Hot Rod staff have been incredibly gracious to Wishing Star,” says Danelle Reagan, chairwoman of the Wishing Star Foundation board of trustees. “We are honored that Rob has chosen to be an ambassador for our foundation and its mission. Everything Rob does is first class.”