Bradley Roots on the Buckeyes

Thousands of Ohio State Buckeye fans got their wish in January 2003 when the football team beat Miami to win its first national title in 34 years. For one determined child, eight-year-old Bradley, the Fiesta Bowl victory was more special because he watched from box seats in Tempe, Arizona.

Bradley, who suffered from a form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma, unfortunately lost his left leg as part of the treatment process. However, he literally did not let that slow him down, often racing on his crutches in circles around anyone nearby. When Make-A-Wish volunteers asked Bradley in November 2002 what he would wish for, they got a surprising answer. He told them that he would wait. He wanted to see of Ohio State would beat Michigan, sending them to the National Championship game.

Ohio State did beat Michigan in that game, allowing Bradley the opportunity to wish for a trip to Tempe to watch the Buckeyes play for the national title. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® arranged for Bradley, his mom and his step-father to attend the game. On January 1, 2003 a party was held by NetJets at Port Columbus International Airport to wish Bradley and his family a great trip. They flew to Tempe where they attended a Phoenix Suns game and received backstage passes to the Ohio State pep rally, an opportunity for Bradley to meet the coaches and players. To make the wish even more incredible, the Ohio State football players found a way to win one of the most exciting games in the history of college football.