Jon Tichy, a 16-year-old from Hibbing, Minnesota, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, had a big wish and that wish is now underway.


Jon wanted a Yamaha ATV and a big game hunting trip, and thanks to the efforts of Wishes & More, a non-profit organization out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jon received a Yamaha 350 Grizzly ATV and a Colorado hunting trip with former Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek.


“We were touched when we heard this story and we wanted to help out in some way,” said Steve LaMotte, district manager for Yamaha in Minnesota.  “Wishes & More had already jumped in and made his wish for a Yamaha come through, and we wanted to show Jon that we’re supporting him too.”


So Yamaha moved quickly after hearing about Jon’s request -- impressed that he had asked specifically for a Yamaha -- and recently sent Jon an official Yamaha accessory Warren Winch and mounting kit along with some Yamaha T-shirts and caps to go with is new Grizzly.


Wishes & More, which strives to “enhance the life of a child fighting a terminal or life-threatening condition by providing extraordinary experiences ... and more,” took on Jon’s cause as soon as they were contacted by his parents.  They raised funds through private donations and purchased a 2007 Grizzly 350 Auto 4x4 for him.  Kent Hrbek, who is now a host of the Kent Hrbek Outdoors Television Show, also joined the cause and he and his crew will be joining Jon on his Elk hunting trip this fall.  The crew is filming the entire wish and they will be dedicating a show to Jon and his wish experience.