Hundreds help grant Brenden Foster's wish

Hundreds help grant Brenden Foster's wish

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Story Published: Nov 21, 2008 at 12:44 AM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 9:49 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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SEATTLE -- Brenden Foster spoke, and hundreds answered.

Touched by a young boy with an old soul, kind hearts answered Brenden's urgings to feed the homeless and took part in KOMO's Stuff the Truck food drive in honor of Brenden on Thursday.

"They're probably starving, so give'em a chance," he had said.

And so many did just that. In these hard financial times, many put their own needs aside to think of Brenden's last wish.

"I'm so thankful for what I have that I just have to give," said Joan Riley.

"He's just a little old man in a child's body. It's a shame he has to go early.Very wise young man," said Karen Blacketer.

Blacketer has little to give these days; she lost her job. But she believes in Brenden's dream and knows the need is great. So she dug deep in her pocket and gave to those less fortunate.

And she wasn't alone.

Lines of cars formed at Fred Meyer stores in Federal Way, Bothell and Issaquah. People donated cart after cart of groceries, boxes of food that will stock the shelves at Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline.

Local businesses jumped in as well. Schwartz Brothers Bakery donated 3,500 muffins.

We didn't just stuff the truck; we stuffed six and a half. Generous souls helped raise more than $60,000 in cash donations. And along with the donations, many shared smiles and tears while talking about their inspiration, beloved Brenden.

Brenden was once the kid who ran the fastest, climbed the highest and dreamed of becoming a marine photographer. Leukemia took away all those things, but not his dying wish to help others.

Brenden saw TV coverage of the incredible turnout, and his family members said their sick boy was simply overjoyed amid his pain and discomfort.

"He doesn't have much time....24, 48 hours. Course we never know. That's up to God," said his grandmother, Patricia McMorrow.

Brenden's only 11 but his grandma says he's at peace with his passing.

"He's ready. He's told us that the angels have come three times and he's ready to go with them," Pat said.

Leukemia will win this round, but Brenden wants everyone to know this is just the beginning of the good he wants to inspire.

"He tells us that when he's an angel, he's going to keep doing the good work," Pat said.





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