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May 5, 2005
 
Milton Teen Meets Stars of 'American Choppers' Thanks to Kid's Wish Network
 
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
 
Huntington (HNN) — Although he's only 14-years-old, Mark Haye has been beating the odds for thirteen years of his short life. The young man has had an inoperable cyst on his brain since his birth. The cyst causes him to suffer serious seizures, but he still enjoys listening to country music, watching NASCAR and football, playing wrestling games on his PS2 and his favorite TV show, "American Choppers."
 
The Discovery Channel reality series tells an on-going look at the owners and employees of Orange County Choppers, a customized motorcycle shop in Rock Tavern, New York. They open their business and lives every Monday at 10 p.m. The father and son team of Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. have carved a unique following in the reality series genre.
 
Thanks to the coordination and generosity of those who contribute to the Kid's Wish Network, young Haye was able to receive a "wish come true." Mark wanted to meet his two favorite stars – Paul Teutruls and Paul Teutruls Jr. from "American Choppers."
 
After a little telephone tag with mom, one of the organization's wish coordinators Kim Tanveer started "waving a magic wand" at real people to bring Mark's dream to fruition. Besides securing a rental car, hotel and dinner reservations for he and his family in the Big Apple, Tanveer arranged for Mark to visit Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. on the set of American Choppers at OCC.
 
By April 14, Kim had the ingredients in place, so Mark's parents drove him to the Hampton Inn in New York City for his adventure.
 
A Stellar Limousine picked the family and coordinator up at the hotel and drove them to the set of "American Choppers."
 
As Mark's mom, Mary Haye, explained, "It was out in the country. They were down to earth and made us feel welcome." Mark spends 30-45 minutes on the set with his favorite TV stars where they signed autographs and took many pictures of all the cycles."
 
After meeting the two men, Ms. Haye said her son was "on Cloud Nine" and all the people they met in New York City were "wonderful." She especially praised wish coordinator Kim Tanveer who sincerely found the experience to be a "treat" for her, too.
 
Unlike other similar organizations that help make wishes come true for seriously ill children, Kids Wish Network stays in touch with the children after granting their wishes. They only require that a physician certify that the child's illness is "serious and life threatening," rather than a more explicit prognosis that may have an adverse impact upon the family.
 
Mark returned to Milton April 16 where he enjoys attending physical education, choir, and special education classes at school.
 
Ms. Haye said that on his bad days "he gets out his pictures to bring him up to par."
 
Kids Wish Network thanks Charlie Brown's Steakhouse, Enterprise Rent a Car, the Hampton Inn, A Stellar Limousine, West Point Academy Tours and the Orange County Choppers for their assistance in making Mark's wish come true.
 
Should you know a child between the ages of three and 18 who may be in need of wish granting services, you can visit: http://www.kidswishnetwork.org or call 888-918-9004. Kid's Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories and improving the quality of life for children.