Paw Parade raises funds to benefit Make-A-Wish recipient

Wren is shown before the Shepherd University Paw Parade judges presented their decision Sunday. The bowl of spaghetti and meatballs costume impressed the judges, and the canine was awarded second place. Angela Durkin
SHEPHERDSTOWN — The decision to reschedule the Wishmakers on Campus Paw Parade and Party from Halloween weekend to this past Sunday, as a result of inclement weather, proved to be the right decision.
With sun shining, over 15 pet participants made the walk down the red carpet to Shepherd University’s Student Center lawn to help raise money for Make-A-Wish recipient Gerald “GW” Everhart.
Everhart was not expected to be in attendance, according to Aly Nazarok, graduate assistant for Student Community Services. To her surprise, he not only was in attendance but was able to help her lead the parade from the Stutzman-Slonaker Building down to the red carpet.
Nazarok, who served as the host for the event, said the students have set a goal of $5,000, which is the average cost of a wish through the Make-A-Wish program. She assists a core group of eight students who select and organize the fundraising events.
“We have a group of students that get to pick the fundraisers that we do and are the team that can put them all together,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to do any of this if they didn’t donate all of their time.”
In addition to the core leadership group, the Shepherd women’s basketball team helped to set up the Paw Parade and Party.
“This year, we’re raising money for GW,” Nazarok said. “He is five-years-old and lives in Martinsburg.”
Everhart was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, when he was two-years-old. His mother, Cynthia, said his first symptom of the illness came as what appeared to be an injured ankle.
After several doctor visits, his mother was told repeatedly that nothing was wrong with the young boy. A pediatrician noticed Everhart’s lymph nodes were swollen and ordered blood testing. He was taken to see a doctor in Morgantown, which led to his diagnosis.
His mother said Everhart’s family was “more than willing” to participate in the events through Shepherd’s Wishmakers on Campus.
Students organized a 5K Glow Run fundraiser to begin raising funds for Everhart’s wish of traveling to Florida by train in early December. He is excited for the train trip and to meet Mickey Mouse and Woody from the movie, “Toy Story.”
For the 5K, Nazarok said the core leadership group was joined by fraternity and sorority brothers and sisters to help “man the course and volunteer.” Also, the students worked together to prepare a special surprise for Everhart at the event.
“His favorite thing in the world is trains, so we decked out a golf cart to make it into a train, and he got to ride with a conductor,” Nazarok said.
Everhart has had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of Shepherd students through the Wishmakers on Campus program. The five-year-old even had the opportunity to participate in the school’s Homecoming parade, where he got to ride on the fire truck.
“He loved that,” Cynthia said. “He’s been a little shy today, but at the Glow Run, he was excited about the golf cart train.”
The Paw Parade brought an array of canines who were dressed to impress the panel of judges, as well as the audience. From barking crabs to a space cowboy, the dogs made the decision hard for everyone. They were competing for gift baskets courtesy of Greensburg Bed and Biscuit and Experience Shepherdstown.
Suki, who was dressed as Maleficent from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” reigned supreme as the Royal Pup. Awards also went to Jack, who was dressed a Shepherd women’s basketball player, Willow, who was dressed as J.C. the Ram’s stunt double, and Wren, who led the parade as a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.
“We are working on plans for next year,” Nazarok said. “Right now, our last fundraiser of the year will be a tree at Lights on the Lake. We got a sponsor for a tree and so we are hopefully going raise some money from that.”
Lights on the Lake will be held Nov. 25-Dec. 30 at the Mountain Lake Club. Plan to see the Make-A-Wish at Shepherd University tree by making reservations at www.lightsonthelakewv.com.
To make a donation in support of Everhart’s wish, visit www.shepherd.edu/communityservice/wishmakers-2.