SEATTLE — At the first game of the season, the Seattle Mariners are welcoming a special guest to T-Mobile Park.
Eleven-year-old Seton practiced running the bases at the ballpark earlier in the week. On Thursday night, he’ll circle the dirt before first pitch in front of the bright lights and thousands of fans.
Seton suffers from a life-threatening respiratory condition and the Make-A-Wish Foundation is partnering with the Mariners to make his biggest baseball dream come true.
“It’s a big, full week for Seton,” said Melissa Arias, the president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. “I think he is going to be shocked when he comes up and sees all the fans, the sold-out crowd. I know that he will take this memory with him for years and years.”
Arias said Make-A-Wish has been working with the Mariners since the franchise started in Seattle. For over 20 years, a “Wish” kid has had the opportunity to run the bases on Opening Day.
Every wish, Arias said, takes about 100 volunteers to make it happen – from the groundcrew at T-Mobile Park to players and management, to media and partnership coordinators.
Make-a-Wish of Alaska and Washington has granted nearly 8,300 wishes for local children, KING 5 previously reported. Worldwide, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 520,000 wishes.
This week, Seton practiced at the field and got his very own Mariners uniform, and on Friday, he’ll spend the day at the Mariners clubhouse with the players, coaches, and game statisticians.
“I think people think the wish ends with Wish Day," Arias said, "but Seton will remember this for the rest of his life.”