My colleague Deanne Winslett has a story that’s a must-read for anyone who doubts the giving spirit of the trucking community — particularly when it comes to folks in any way in need.
Sixteen-year-old Dakota Cadd of Milton, Wis.There’s a event happening this Saturday, Aug. 18, in honor of Dakota “Bubba” Cadd, long known to haulers local to areas in and around Cadd’s Milton, Wis., hometown for his truck-spotting activity out in the front yard of his home along state highway 26 there. As Winslett wrote:
Dakota sits in his wheelchair in his family’s front yard located alongside Highway 26 and waves at truckers for hours as they drive by, trying to get them to blow their horns. Dakota has Dandy-Walker Malformation, which affects brain development and movement coordination. He has an inoperable cyst in his brain and experiences seizures. He had to have a major surgery this past Spring and couldn’t go outside to wave at trucks, but that didn’t matter to the drivers.
During that time, Milton resident and retired trucker Jeremy Wallenkamp had the idea of bringing out a few trucks to a special cookout he’d throw for Dakota and his family. After he posted the idea on Facebook requesting “trucking hats, shirts, and other items for Dakota,” Winslett writes, the small cookout turned into something else entirely. Dakota has since been the recipient of a flood of support from U.S. truckers and haulers all around the world. As Winslett put it, “Truckers have been visiting Dakota and giving him gifts, and he’s received support online from ‘truckies’ in Australia and New Zealand.”
The “18 Wheels for Bubba” event, which you can read about in full view the original piece at this link, will ultimately bring together more than just a few trucks this Saturday at Schilberg Park in Milton. Get more details about it via this link.
Hats off to Wallenkamp and everyone else involved.
