Boy's dreams come true

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
J.R. Graham, a local boy who fought cancer last year before becoming cancer-free, now has a passion for life and snowmobiling, and many people from across the nation have helped to make his dreams a reality. 
It all started last winter, according to J.R.’s dad, George, when J.R. and a friend went snowmobiling. His friend’s snowmobile broke down, and he decided to give it to J.R. to see if he could fix it up. 
J.R. and George recently reached out to Ryan Koch, a local snowmobile enthusiast, to take a look at the old 440 Arctic Cat snowmobile. Koch posted on Facebook in his snowmobiling groups, sharing some of J.R.’s story and asking for help getting parts to fix up the sled. That exposure quickly grew. 
“It just escalated from there,” George said, noting that donations and support of all kinds began to flood in. Many donors had a personal experience with cancer in some way, Koch said. 
There wasn’t much hope for getting the Arctic Cat running, so earlier this month, Derek Treiber of Ida Grove, Iowa, donated a Ski-Doo Summit to J.R. The donated sled is now having some work done on it at Boyd’s Outdoor Powersports in Gillette, after the last of the needed parts and cash were donated by Ryan and Mike Yuronich.
The support from the snowmobiling community has continued to grow, according to Koch. People from around the country have donated gear, parts and so much more. Rice’s Rapid Motorsports/Rice’s Polaris of the Black Hills is teaming with Castle X Snowmobile Gear to get J.R. the best in gear. Destination X donated a Klim helmet, Jessica Carter of Extreme Realities designed a new cancer ribbon for J.R., and Kyle Keirns donated a seat. Those are just a few of the people who have donated and offered their help. Someone even donated a sled to George, he said, so that he could be with J.R. Donations of snowmobiling gear have also come to George. 
Koch said that J.R.’s love of life and fun is part of what motivated him to help. Koch said that he has always enjoyed snowmobiling, and he hopes that J.R. can enjoy it as much as he has. 
“He (J.R.) has that same passion for life that I have for snowmobiling,” Koch said. “He’s just a really good kid that’s been through a lot.”
Koch and J.R. have been having a lot of fun and “guy time” together – making several trips to Gillette, “talking sleds,” and more. Koch said that he and his wife, along with J.R., are going to be traveling a lot this year to meet some of those who have helped. 
Treiber said that when he heard about J.R.’s story and what he’s been through, he decided to give him the Ski-Doo snowmobile, one of his extra sleds. 
“I couldn’t believe how much he’s been through. I just donated it (snowmobile) so his dreams could come true,” Treiber said. He also hopes that J.R. will have fun getting into snowmobiling and experiencing what it’s like. 
Kelly Weeks, president of the 307 Riders club in Gillette, has also donated parts. Additionally, the Grass Drags race  that the club hosts is Oct. 5 at the Cam-plex in Gillette, and the club found a sled for J.R. to ride so that he could compete. Half of the entry fees are also earmarked for J.R. and his endeavors. 
“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Weeks said. Weeks is also taking J.R., George and Koch and his wife on a guided snowmobile tour in the Bighorn Mountains this winter. 
J.R. and George say they have been affected by all the support in a big way. They are amazed at how large the snowmobiling community is. 
“I was in shock,” J.R. said. “It was pretty awesome.” 
J.R. said that when he and his dad asked Koch for help getting the old Arctic Cat up and running, he never dreamed it would evolve into the outpouring of support he has received. 
The elder Graham expressed similar sentiments. He said that the support has been overwhelming, and he is very impressed with the kindness that he and J.R. have received. 
J.R. and George have big plans for this winter, George said. J.R. said he is excited to compete in the Grass Drags and hopes to win something there. George and J.R. are also hoping to get in some riding together to bond as father and son, George said. 
“I’m looking forward to spending some time with J.R. on the sleds,” George said. 
A Minnesota resident is also sponsoring a trip to that state for J.R. to participate in a benefit ride. The only thing the man asked for in return, George said, was for J.R. to share his story. George said that J.R. would be more than happy to do that, having already shared his story throughout his time back at school. 
George said that after the rough year that the family has had, he’s glad that J.R. is healthy, and he’s looking forward to having some fun this winter. He said he’s learned there are a lot of good people and he wanted to give a shout-out to Koch for all the help he has given. 
“It’s awesome that there’s still good people out there,” George said. 
George also credits God with working things out. When J.R. got his sled, he said, he wanted George to get one too, but George didn’t think they could afford it. Just a week later, George said, they found out about the sled someone donated to George. 
“God has had his hands in this a lot,” George said. 
Koch said that he hopes that J.R. learns from this experience to appreciate life and make the most of every moment. Koch, Treiber and Weeks all said that they hope J.R. will understand all the love and care that so many people have for him. They also said that they hope that J.R. will in turn be kind and generous to others in the future and be willing to give to others in need.