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5-Year-Old Leukemia Patient Gets Wish Made Real

DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP — It was a day that 5-year-old Alonzo Wood’s wishes came true. Alonzo, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, had a custom-mad...

DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP -- It was a day that 5-year-old Alonzo Wood's wishes came true.

Alonzo, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, had a custom-made playhouse delivered to his family's backyard near Damascus Tuesday afternoon.

The house was donated by the Wayne County Builders Association created for a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It is very important for him,” said mom Jodi Wood. “He sees what others actually do and how they help other people and I think that's very good for him to kind of build on.”

“It's very important. It will give him something when he looks back on it and he'll have the incentive to help out people,” said dad Ray Wood.

The builders association says it wanted to raise money for the foundation and made six custom built playhouses.

The house given to Alonzo won the Best In Show award at the association's annual Home and Garden Festival.

“It has a twist slide, a fireman's pole, a tent, a regular swing, a swivel swing, it's got a sand box inside,” said Alan Haviland whose company Haviland Builders and Remodeling, created and build Alonzo’s playhouse.  “A balcony that kids can run around up top and two water pistols are hooked up.”

The five remaining playhouses will be raffled off to the public.

“You can purchase tickets from August 2 through Aug 10 at the Wayne County Fair and the last day of the fair we will be pulling the winning tickets,” said Laurie Lourie, CEO of the Wayne County Builders Association.  “100 percent of the proceeds will go children in Pike and Wayne Counties through the Make-A-Wish Program.”

Alonzo has spent the last year getting monthly chemotherapy treatments, even losing his hair over the winter. His family says seeing him this happy is the best medicine of all.

“This whole thing has been, we are very appreciative for him, you know?” said Ray Wood. “It's been a tough road.”

Raffle tickets are $10 each or $25 for three. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Wayne County Builders Association at (570) 226-4941.

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