COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 3-year-old girl from Columbus can now ride around in style after her wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation was granted at Topgolf on Sunday.
Two weeks before her first birthday, Lola was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. According to her website, called Hope with Lo, Zellweger’s Spectrum Disorder is usually terminal in childhood and affects every system in a person’s body.
Lola’s dad Jake Kaufman said the family was feeling joyfulness and gratefulness at the event hosted by Topgolf and Make-A-Wish.
One of the things that Lola enjoys the most, according to her dad, is being outside and riding around.
It was only fitting that her gift involved riding around outside and included all of her favorite things.
She was presented with a pink and zebra print golf cart, complete with a passenger steering wheel so she could pretend to drive her new ride around.
Mandi Custer, marketing director for Make-A-Wish, said she’s amazed at the creativity of so many of the wishes they receive.
“Lola wished for a golf cart that was suited to meet some of her limitations through mobility. She wanted a pink, zebra golf cart and I just can’t think of anything better for a 3-year-old girl,” Custer said.
Lola, who is nonverbal, expressed her excitement for the golf cart and even took it for a spin with her family around the parking lot.
“We have a little car that we push her in right now and she is laughing the whole time that we’re pushing. She rode in a golf cart one time and loved it. When that was an option that became apparent, we were like ‘That’s going to be the gift that Lo wants,’” Kaufman said.
While there is no known cure or treatment for the rare disease, the family is undergoing a fundraiser now to help raise money for research. They are hoping to raise $100,000 to donate. More information can be found on their website.
“As we’ve embarked on this experience, we’ve learned how much there’s a community of people that surround us and surround our daughter, Lo,” Kaufman said. “Today we’re feeling grateful. We’re feeling joyful. Not just because of the golf cart, and not just because of the gift that we’re getting, but because of the gift of love that we have in this community.”
