Last Thursday night I was contacted by my friend the Experience Genie to help with a very special mission. The Genie had an amazing day planned for a cancer survivor in Atlanta. My task was to find this deserving hero. I quickly got on the phone and started calling people that I knew that were fighting cancer or knew people that may be needing a day like this. For the next two days I got close but for many reasons people were unavailable.

Then I woke up Saturday morning and I thought – I need to call "Stick it 2 Cancer." I had never met the couple that founded this organization but I had seen the Stick it 2 Cancer car around town many times and for some reason calling them seemed right.

Torri Westmoreland answered the phone and after I explained why I was calling, she started telling me about Stick it 2 Cancer, her husband and another gentleman, she thought should be honored. Stick it 2 Cancer was founded after her husband John, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma to raise awareness and funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. John has given everything to the cause and has touched many lives in the process.

I told Torri that we found our hero, her husband John, and that I couldn't imagine a more deserving recipient of this special day. So the surprise was set in motion.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, John arrived at Gwinnett Place Honda in Duluth under false pretenses cooked up by his wife and friends. There he was surprised by a strange blue man in a red suit that resembled a Genie, the entire staff of Gwinnett Place Honda as well as family and friends. He was then told by the Genie that he had been selected for this dream day and was given a $1000 gift card from Gwinnett Place Honda. The Genie and John then drove off to begin their day.

The first stop was the track at Atlanta Motorsports where the Genie and John raced around in Porsches reaching top speeds. They then took to the skies, and at Lawrenceville Airport boarded a red helicopter for a tour of Atlanta. The Genie then drove John and Torri to the Omni where John was treated to a massage, nice dinner and overnight stay. This was not the day John expected when he woke up Tuesday morning but it was an honor to give back to someone who has done so much for others in our community. 

Thank you John.

So who is the Experience Genie? His name is Josh Dawson and he is from Toronto, Canada. Josh lost his father to cancer a few years ago and since then has been in the business of granting wishes for everyday heroes. Josh and his fiancé Ingrid Thornhill have granted hundreds of wishes in more than 60 cities since 2009.

To learn more about this organization please visit I am Genie website. To learn more about the Westmorelands and Stick it 2 Cancer, please visit their Facebook page.

You might also be interested in reading:

Light the Night Fundraiser, Huge Success

Local Restaurant 'Sticks It 2 Cancer'