MONROE – Sean Robbins, 43, remembers the excitement he felt when he rode a go-kart for the first time more than 30 years ago.
Robbins of Anchorage, Alaska, wanted his son Ian, 5, to feel the same excitement while the boy still can.
Ian was diagnosed with leukemia in late 2003 and received a bone marrow transplant last year. He is still fighting the disease.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
The father’s wish of giving his child the thrill of a go-kart ride was granted Friday at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, thanks to the help of the Seattle Karting Club.
While staying at a Ronald McDonald House recently in Seattle with Ian, Robbins contacted a member of the club whom he knew through his go-kart business.
In response, club members arranged everything from a go-kart to a helmet to a racing jacket for Ian.
“I wasn’t expecting anything as nearly generous as this,” Robbins said.
Club members were willing to help, said Richard Bizier, the club’s president.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is racers always help each other. It’s a very tight community,” Bizier said.
With his father’s help, Ian hopped in a go-kart and started off. During his ride, he went too fast and ran into a big tire used as a barricade. Afterwards, Ian said he got tired and declined to talk about the experience.
Unfortunately, the first ride didn’t work well for Ian, but Robbins said he was still grateful for the club’s help.
Heather Hubbard, of Bothell, brought her daughter Scottie, 7, to the racing track so that Ian could have a company.
“We just wanted to help. We just wanted to make his life a little easier,” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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