You can’t miss the bright orange truck plastered with OSU Cowboys decals parked in the Health Professions parking lot on campus. It belongs to Hunter Brown, Westmoore graduate of 2013.

The dream truck was decked out by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after Brown learned he had leukemia during his sophomore year of high school.

It was April of 2011, when Brown came down with what he thought was just a stomach virus but which would turn out to be much more and would change his life drastically.

A trip to the doctor revealed that Brown had leukemia, which is cancer of the blood.

“When we got the results, the doctor sent me to Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City to run more tests and confirm the diagnosis,” Brown said.

The results did not change and on April 6, 2011, Brown began his battle with leukemia.

Brown’s first admission to Children’s Hospital lasted 10 days. This is when he began treatment and it was followed by many more stays.

Brown said the hardest part of it all was keeping a positive attitude, especially when times were really bleak.

“Not having any energy to do what I have always done and wanted to do was the hardest part physically,” he said. For a 16-year-old, it was a nightmare.

When the Make-A-Wish Foundation heard Brown’s story, they wanted to do something great for him. In August of 2011, Brown’s navy blue 1995 Chevy Silverado got a brand new make-over.

Knowing Brown was a huge Oklahoma State University fan, Make-A-Wish painted the truck based on the Cowboys. Brown knew Make-A-Wish Foundation was re-doing his truck but he didn’t know what they were doing or when they would be done.

Representatives of the foundation surprised Brown at a Moore War football game between two Moore high schools and unveiled his lifted, orange truck with OSU decals.

Brown said his initial reaction was that he couldn’t believe that it was really his truck. Within minutes he was driving his tricked-out truck across the track in front of all his classmates who were cheering him on.

Jeff Summers, CEO for Make-A-Wish, was responsible for re-designing Brown’s truck and Ashley Morey and Lyndon Shumaker were Brown’s wish-granters.

Brown underwent treatment for leukemia for three and a half years.

“My family and God are what really got me through it all,” Brown said. “They were there with me every step of the way.”

Brown is now in remission and stopped receiving treatment on July 20, 2014.

The nursing major plans to graduate from OCCC in May.

Brown continues to give back to cancer patients through car shows.

“Rides for Wishes” are car shows held at different locations in Oklahoma City such as Fort Thunder and Hooters. The car shows are hosted by Oklahoma Car shows and are fundraisers open to the public. The proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Oklahoma.

The first show raised over $2000 for the foundation, Brown said.

For more information on “Rides for Wishes” contact Hunter Brown at 405-227-7199.