Surgoinsville teen receives dirt bike from Make-A-Wish Foundation

SURGOINSVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – Make-A-Wish East Tennessee and The Friendship Family of Dealerships made a teen’s dirt bike wish come true on Thursday.

Nathan Helton, 16, is an outgoing teenager from Surgoinsville who is fighting lymphoma. He enjoys baseball, swimming and being outside. One outdoor activity he has been dreaming of is riding a dirt bike of his own.

Make-A-Wish East Tennessee and the dealership granted Helton his wish on Thursday with a brand-new ride.

News Channel 11 spoke with Garrett Wagley, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish East Tennessee, who said the dirt bike would hopefully be a long-lasting gift.

“Nathan loves dirt bikes and being outside, so this dirt bike is going to be really a terrific wish for him, something that he can celebrate for a long, long time and really enjoy his childhood,” Wagley said.

Wagley said Make-A-Wish aims to give children who have received a challenging diagnosis a piece of their childhood back.

Make-A-Wish East Tennessee is the local chapter of Make-A-Wish. It serves children with critical illnesses in the 36-county territory from Bristol to Chattanooga and Crossville to the Carolina border.

Helton received his dirt bike at Stateline Motorsports in Bristol, Va.

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