A group of truckers from all across the country got together last weekend to make a young man’s birthday one that he would never forget.
Dakota “Bubba” Cadd loves trucks. One of his favorite things to do is sit out in the yard at his parents’ house next to Highway 26 and wave at truckers as they drive by. He often pumps his arm, trying to get drivers to blow their horns. But unlike other teenagers, Bubba likely won’t get the opportunity to become a trucker in the future. That’s because he has cerebral palsy and Dandy-Walker syndrome, a brain condition that causes coordination issues and cognitive delays.
One day, Bubba’s mom, Peg Cadd, noticed something.
“Dakota was out in his normal spot, sitting there, pumping his arm, and I noticed there was a bag on the ground,” said Cadd. “It was a little semi truck… and I realized that somebody had taken the time to stop on the highway and throw this package for my son over the five-foot fence.”
Bubba loved the gift, but there was no note explaining who had left it for him or why. So Cadd wrote about it on Facebook in a post that quickly went viral. Eventually, it got around to Mark King, the driver who had left the gift.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for children in wheelchairs, probably because I grew up with a sister… she was handicapped,” King said according to News9.
But the story didn’t stop there. Since Bubba’s 16th birthday was coming up, a group of drivers started an event on Facebook that they called ’18 Wheels for Bubba’.
“I thought it was going to be five trucks and a pack of brats,” said Jeremy Wallenkamp, one of the truckers who started the event.
Instead, 182 trucks and hundreds of people showed up at a park in Milton, WI on August 18th. It was kept a surprise from Bubba all the way until he got there. He met with drivers, toured their trucks, and was even made an honorary member of OOIDA.
“What child ever gets something so special like this?” Cadd said. “To see people embrace my son, giving him hugs and wishing him happy birthday. It’s amazing that there are folks like that out there.”
Source: news9, gazettextra, ttnews, cbs, channel3000, wivb, cbs, facebook
Image Source: facebook
That was awesome. Wish I could have been there.
Georgia trucker. Motor city Mack.
Trucker’s have some of the biggest hearts, awesome story, thank a trucker when you can, they sacrifice alot, great job
Some one should give bubba a hand held cb so he can talk to truckers on channel 19
what a awesome idea
Good to hear of some old school trucking kindness. Something that is rare in trucking these days. I wish I would of heard of this event. I live in Rockford Illinois and would surely of been there too!
To all who showed support…KUDOS!!
So awesome to see there are still good souls in this world. God bless
Happy Birthday Bubba! Refreshing to hear stories like this.
We’re all God’s children. You can brighten up a whole room with a smile, an encouraging word, or a good deed.
^^^ exactly. Kindness is pretty non-existent these days & the only publicity truckers get is usually bad publicity so it’s really a pleasure to hear some good news for a change about trucking and that there’s still some wonderful truckers who are still out here. Kudos to them! Great story.
Great story! Too bad there aren’t more people like that in this world. That must have meant the world to that young boy. This almost sounds like the truckers/country song “Teddy Bear”. If you have never heard that song, listen to it. Hats off to all of the caring truck drivers.
Thank you men and women of the road for making his day u see a little good goes a million miles
I was there and it was a very emotional day for everyone in the park. If you go on FB and search 18 Wheels for Bubba, there is a lot of pics and videos. I love driving truck and to see what a kindness act does touches the heart close to home. I can’t wait to do more events in the future.
This is one of the coolest stories I’ve read in a long time. Thanks for posting it. You made my day!!!!
That’s a great thing they make it where we r not aloud to blow the horn for kids anymore n that’s bull it should still b aloud
Great job…it’s like the song teddy bear by red sovine..I am old school trucking..43 yrs worth..great thumbs up to you guys..
That must have been a heck of birthday for the young kid . eather way hope u had a great happy birthday little late wish but is the though that counts . Like the previous comment. It would have been nice to be there too . Thanks to the one that started it all and those that show their support for this kid .
Bubba I am so Happy you had a memorable birthday young man you deserved it and I wish you many morehttp://businessgroup.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cr-00020-birthday-cards-for-truck-drivers.jpg
AWESOME STORY. Truck drivers often get a bad reputation because of the minor inconviences they cause to people’s daily routine. It’s nice to hear stories like this that show them as real and caring people not just the guy driving to slow down the freeway.