Michael Sandridge uses Make-A-Wish request to help Glenvar High School football team
The Glenvar community was devastated last week to learn that Glenvar High School sophomore Michael Sandridge‘s cancer is believed to be terminal. With that news, the folks at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia stepped in to grant a wish to Michael.
Instead of a trip or a vacation, Michael asked for new weight equipment for the Glenvar High School football team. Michael served as kicker for the JV football team last year.
On Thursday, Jan. 24, football coach Kevin Clifford joined a volunteer representative from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and about a dozen of the football players on a Skype call to Michael. They placed the order for the new equipment the same day. The equipment that the team will receive includes new power bars and a few benches, according to Clifford. Orders of that nature usually take about eight weeks to arrive, said Glenvar High School assistant principal Sonya Cline.
“It’s been obviously a difficult situation. It’s certainly sad. But it’s very inspiring too,” Clifford said of Michael’s gracious and selfless decision. “We all need to do a little self reflection. We live in such a self-serving society.”
Clifford said that this serves as “a message about being unselfish” and called the gift “awesome.”
But, for Clifford, it isn’t about the gift. “It’s about what the gift represents,” he said.
“At the end of the day, the things we accumulate, our accolades–they mean nothing,” Clifford said. “It’s the journey that really matters. It’s about building relationships.”
Clifford continued, “Live every day like it’s your last, fight the good fight. That’s all any of us can ask for.”
January 25, 2013 - 6:00 PM
Hey Michaels family if you ever need anything let me know and also if you yall could post something on facebook about his visitation at the funeral home and let me know when his funeral is that away that i can try to come to it. Sorry about the loss and I will continue to keep him and yall and all of his friends in my prayers.