For Newtown Fifth Grader

By Eliza Hallabeck

The home of fifth grade Reed Intermediate School student Matthew Troy and his family was open for guests on Sunday, April 5, for a celebration to kick-start Matthew’s Dream Come True of Western Connecticut trip to a NASCAR speedway.

The family, Matthew’s father Pat, mother Leslie, twin brother Kyle, and younger sister Colbe, then traveled to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., on Saturday, April 11, and returned on Friday, April 17.

Matthew, who goes by Matty, had three different ideas he presented to Sharon D’ornea with Dream Come True of Western Connecticut when he learned he had been selected by the organization.

“And [Sharon] just went with it,” said Ms Troy at the party. Ms Troy added that her son has always been a devoted fan of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. A cake decorated with the word “NASCAR” and racing flags was prepared for the celebration.

Matty said he likes racing “because it is my favorite sport.”

“Anyone that knows him, knows he has a love for NASCAR,” said Ms Troy.

At school Matty also enjoys reading biographies, according to his mother, especial of Walt Disney, any president of the United States, and Babe Ruth.

Dream Come True of Western Connecticut is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fulfill the dreams of seriously, chronically, and terminally ill children in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties, according to the organization.

Matty has a pervasive development disorder, according to his mother, which refers to conditions that involve developmental delays in communicative skills.

According to Ms D’ornea, Dream Come True of Western Connecticut is run completely by volunteers. Ms Troy said she volunteered for the organization roughly ten years ago.

Ms D’ornea said Matty’s dream is her first Dream Come True. “I am so excited,” Ms D’ornea said at the party.

While still looking forward to the trip, Matty said he was hopeful that he would get to meet people.

Ms Troy said after returning from the trip, that Matty was able to meet driver Kenny Wallace and the aunt and uncle of Tony Stewart, who could not be there. She also said Mr Stewart’s aunt and uncle gave Matty a piece of Mr Stewart’s car to bring back to Newtown.

During the trip Matty was given a VIP tour of Lowe’s Motor Speedway and a tour of NASCAR radio station MRN Radio.

“Every day we had something special to do,” said Ms Troy.

Matty’s dream, according to Ms D’ornea, was the first dream to come true of this year. During the visit Ms Troy said Matty and his family visited Kannapolis, N.C., to go to a tribute to champion driver Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, called “The Dale Trail.” Matty, she said by email, has just about every print biography on Mr Earnhardt. Ms Troy said one tour guide in particular, Roger Haas, donated his services for tours of NASCAR-related sites.

They also visited NASCAR race shops of teams Hendrick Motor Sports, Roush-Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, and JR Motorsports. Matty was also presented with three lithographs from the Sam Bass Gallery; Sam Bass is a NASCAR artist.

Since returning, Ms Troy said she has been explaining the trip to friends and family by telling them that during the vacation every night before going to bed Matty would say, “It was the best day of my life.”