A Saint John boy diagnosed with a terminal illness will receive the monster truck experience of a lifetime.
Eight-year-old Christopher Giggey, who has been obsessed with monster trucks for the past six years, will travel with his family and best friend to Halifax on Friday for the NAPA Auto Parts World Series of Monster Trucks.
NAPA Auto Parts and Eastbound Park are covering his travel, tickets and accommodations.
Shortly after dawn, a stretch limousine, “the car for rich people,” as Christopher calls it, will pick up the group in Saint John.
A NAPA delivery truck bearing the company’s signature little hat will escort them to Halifax, with a special stop at the IWK Health Centre en route.
At Scotia Speedworld, Christopher will:
- Tour the pit and meet drivers face-to-face
- Be introduced live on stage before the show
- Take his seat in a reserved front-row section
- Receive custom NAPA gear
“It’s going to be unforgettable,” his mother, Shannon Downs, said.
“He’s earned every smile on that track.”
Christopher’s medical journey and bravery beads
Christopher was diagnosed last year with a terminal illness that’s kept him in and out of the hospital ever since.
He spent four straight months as an inpatient at the IWK Health Centre last summer, undergoing dozens of procedures—blood work, scans, surgeries and more.
To mark each step, Christopher earns a “bravery bead.” Today, he has more than 100 feet of colourful beads, each one representing a test or treatment.
Every Christmas, Downs said the family wraps that strand around their tree so the lights shine through his journey.
“Those beads tell his story better than any words,” Downs said.
Monster truck highlights
Christoper loves the moment when the massive machines launch off the dirt ramps and soar through the air.
When being asked to design his own, he said it would be bright green, carry the number 7 and be named “Groot” after his favourite character.
Mike James, director of Eastbound Park, tapped his global network of drivers to send video messages.
Competitors from Canada, the United States and Australia pledged to dedicate their biggest stunts to Christopher.
“He was in awe,” Downs said. “To hear his heroes speak his name—it lit him up inside.”
The NAPA Auto Parts World Series of Monster Trucks runs from Friday to Sunday at the Halifax Exhibition Centre.
