Industry Spotlight

Mason’s Sweet Ride

PHOTOGRAPHY: DEVER

A Kentucky boy got a dream vehicle courtesy of a local golf car dealer.

Mason Bigger, 8, has astrocytoma, a cancerous brain tumor that creates muscle weakness and loss of control. On the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s World Wish Day, the Campbellsville, Ky. boy got a big surprise courtesy of Lexington’s Dever Golf Cars – a golf car painted University of Kentucky blue, with a UK logo on the front. The car will help him go golfing and fishing with his family.

“Just save up on all the walking, because sometimes he’ll get tired before he gets to do what he’s there to do,” his father, Derrick Biggers, told WKYT News.

The golf car dealer customized the car based on Mason’s interests and needs – which among other things, meant holders for fishing rods. For the team at Dever, there was never any question that they’d help out.

“We always try to help those in our community when the need arises,” said Alan Houp, Dever’s Vice President of Golf Car Sales. “When Make-A-Wish asked us to partner with them to grant the golf car wish of a child battling a brain tumor, we were all-in.”

Figuring out exactly what would go in and on the golf car was a lot of fun for everybody.

PHOTOGRAPHY: DEVER

“We first met Mason and his family when he came to the dealership to pick out his color scheme, options and accessories,” Houp said. “ I don’t know who had more fun that day, them or us, but it was a very rewarding. Once we settled on the model and design he wanted, we went to work building his wish. The build came together quickly, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the reveal for over 6 weeks. A complete sanitization of the dealership (and other strict guidelines) allowed us to schedule the reveal for a day that happened to be the 40th Anniversary of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Mason had not laid eyes on the completed vehicle until he stepped through the front doors. The look on his face was priceless. Mason was proud to be able to let his younger sister sit with him and show her the cool features of his new golf car. He is one of the most polite, charismatic young men I have ever met and has a winning attitude. Even at a time of pain, hospital visits and uncertainty, he couldn’t wait to take it camping and cruise with his family.”

Mason was thrilled to use the car. His first passenger? His sister.

“She helps me,” he told WKYT. “Now, I’m going to help her in life and I love what y’all done for me and I just want to thank Make-A-Wish and love y’all.”

According to Houp, Mason wasn’t the only one who received a gift that day. “Mason left that day with a tricked-out E-Z-GO RXV-e for him and his family to spend time enjoying each other,” he said. “He left us with something valuable too, the feeling of love and thankfulness.”