Saugerties man granted 1987 truck overhaul By Robert Lachman

HUDSON - Seventeen-year old Jason Sheehan of Saugerties has always loved classic cars.

He and his dad have been working on his 1987 Chevy Stepside pickup truck for the last few years, performing extensive mechanical work.

In 2002, Jason was diagnosed with brain cancer and has been in and out of hospitals ever since, undergoing chemotherapy.

If there was one thing he wished for during that time it was to have his beloved truck completely customized inside and out.

Yesterday, with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Collector's Edge of Hudson, a company that restores classic cars, Jason got his wish.

The scene at Collector's Edge was one of anticipation as friends, supporters and the media gathered around the newly restored pickup truck, waiting for Jason's arrival.

Jason Sheehan of Saugerties poses for cameras in the front seat of his newly overhauled 1987 Chevy Stepside truck.

George Washburn, owner of Collector's Edge, told how he got involved with Make-A-Wish to help Jason's dream come true.

"Make-A-Wish came to me with Jason's story, so we did a custom paint job and a custom interior in black leather and red ostrich trim," he said. "We did the wheels, tires, bumpers. We put a winch on the grill and a mural on the back and installed a new stereo system."

It took Washburn and his team five weeks to complete the job and every team member donated their time and equipment to get it done.

Then Jason arrived with his mom, Tammy, and though he knew Collector's Edge was working on his truck he had no idea how incredible it was going to look. He was speechless. He walked around the truck looking at the bright red paint job, the hand-painted flames on the front and when he got to the back, he saw the mural he had wanted painted on the back. It was done by freelance artist George Alfonsin and shows a pair of hands moving toward the grim reaper with a caption that reads, "Jason's Revenge."

Jason's Revenge tailgate of his custom designed pick-up truck.

"They did such a beautiful job," his mother said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "We drove the truck over here in August and George was so great. He spent a lot of time with Jason talking it over. It's wonderful."

The interior of the truck was fully-loaded, including an Alpine stereo system with a 2,400-watt amp behind the seat, four 300-watt speakers in the ceiling and a 700-watt bass subwoofer behind the seat. Below the dashboard rested a GPS navigational system.

"I ain't putting a lawnmower in this," Jason said. "I'm amazed."

Joe Fusco did the interior design work in red leather and ostrich hide and put Jason's name on the headrest. "We donated everything," Fusco said. "It feels great."

David Simkins, former Board Chairman and current co-chair of the Business Council of the Hudson Valley Make-A-Wish chapter explained how this all came about.

"The family was referred by his doctors and then the wish granter's came and Jason had a detailed punch list of everything he wanted," Simkins said. "The important part of the wish is that the Collector's Edge community donated everything so this could happen." Simkins also explained that in the current economic climate it is much easier for the business community to donate their time and expertise than to just write a check and it paid off in a big way.

"The Collector's Edge guys really deserve all the credit," said Simkins.

Jason Sheehan, with his brother Michael standing next to him, checks out the artwork on the tailgate of his redesigned truck.