Submitted photo Vigo Meyer holds a heart with signatures while in the Ronald McDonald House in Buffalo.

As 13-year-old Silver Creek residen Vigo Meyer continues to go through his extensive treatment for his recently diagnosed brain tumor, community members continue to rally around him to give him all the support they can.

In February, a fundraiser dinner and basket raffle were held at Silver Creek Central School and on Sunday, Michelle Budnack, a Make-A-Wish volunteer, will help deliver Vigo’s wish.

Budnack and her Make-A-Wish partner Dawn Stanton are holding an event at the Silver Creek Fire Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. While normally the process for granting wishes is a lengthy one, Budnack said the process for this one was expedited.

“Right now, wishes are usually taking 18 to 24 months to grant,” said Budnack. “But this was a rush wish based on his diagnosis so as soon as all the paperwork was signed by the parents. We wanted to get it done.”

Budnack’s connection to Vigo is more personal than just being a volunteer. A Silver Creek resident herself, Budnack said that Vigo is practically her neighbor and has previously bought popcorn Vigo has sold through Boy Scouts. While Budnack wasn’t going to let an opportunity close to home slip by her, she did say the process is a little more difficult because she knows him.

“We get weekly emails of which wishes are available and it’s our choice if we want to be put on that wish,” said Budnack. “So, when I saw one from Silver Creek, I had to take it. It definitely makes it harder because my kids know him and quite a few people I’m associated with know him. He’s a really nice boy and despite what he’s going through, he stays positive. When he’s home on the weekends, he still does stuff with Boy Scouts and does what he can while he’s not at Ronald McDonald House. He’s trying to make the best of it.”

This Make-A-Wish for Vigo is once again an example of the Silver Creek community coming together for him, and Budnack said that everywhere she’s turned for help has been met with a positive response. “Nobody has told me no,” she said. “Everybody will do what they can. Vigo’s bus driver has been texting me back and forth asking what she can do. It’s a whole community effort.”

Budnack said that COVID-19 has made the process for granting wishes more difficult, but that a multitude of things will culminate on Sunday to make Vigo’s day special for him.

“It’s harder during COVID because we usually take a present to the child when we first meet them as an icebreaker gift and we like to go sit down with them but COVID made all of that virtual,” said Budnack. “I haven’t even met my wish partner either. It’s all virtual.”

Budnack has gotten donations from one of the local pizza places for pizza for Sunday, and the fire hall is loaning the space with some decorations to help set up. Additionally, Silver Creek Superintendent Todd Crandall sent an email out to people in the district as well as making a social media post for the event to try and get as many people there as possible.

Budnack said that Vigo’s Boy Scout troop has been invited, and anyone who wants to show up is more than welcome to do so. Guests should arrive at 1:30 p.m., with Vigo showing up at 2 p.m., giving him a little bit more of a surprise to see the people who show up for him.