Local teen gets wish granted just in time for new school year

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A teenage cancer survivor is heading back to school Wednesday with a brand new set of wheels after the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted his wish. The 17 year old junior at Sierra High was diagnosed with brain cancer a year and a half ago but now he's cancer free with a restored ride.

Alec Gray dreamed of having his 1972 Ford Bronco restored to its former glory. The vehicle makeover was revealed in Clovis Tuesday evening, and Gray was thrilled with the results. "It looks better than it ever has. I'm going to be like the big dog on campus, with my big Bronco!" said Gray.

Gray calls the Bronco "Delilah." It now has new paint, bigger wheels and fewer dents. "It was in a bit of a cruddy state when we got it and now it's beautiful and amazing," said Gray.

The makeover marks a big turnaround... not just for the Bronco, but also the teenager behind the wheel. After six rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, Alec is now cancer free. "He turned 16 in the ICU in San Francisco and we weren't sure this is something we'd be doing some day. So it's very exciting," said Alec's mother, Le Ann Judd.

To help make Alec's wish come true, a Clovis body shop donated labor, another company donated paint, and another installed a car alarm and a state-of-the-art stereo system. Costs that weren't donated were paid for by the Make-A-Wish foundation. "The whole community gets involved. I think what's important is that all the money is raised locally and all of the money stays locally. It's for kids with life threatening illnesses right here in the Valley," said Diana Rambo, the Executive Director of the Central California Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Central Valley chapter is celebrating its year of 100 wishes this year. Alec's Bronco marks the 96th wish granted by the organization to date.