Dexter boy’s bike raffle to aid ill fellow pupil

DEXTER – Most kids would never dream of giving away a new bicycle, but that is exactly what a local boy is doing tonight.

Nathan Wyman, 9, has been so touched by fellow pupil Tyler Wintle’s illness that he plans to raffle off a mountain bicycle he won this week to raise funds for the Wintle family. Wintle, 8, of Dexter, has an inoperable tumor in his head.

This act of kindness isn’t the first for Nathan, son of Melvin and Cathy Wyman. A few days after terrorists attacked the nation on Sept. 11, Nathan rolled up his sleeves and helped Dexter firefighters wash cars to raise funds for the families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center. When he wasn’t holding a boot to collect the donations, Nathan was sprinting around the vehicles washing tires, which was as high as he could reach. He also helped organize a money drive at his school for the American Red Cross to help victims of the terrorist attacks.

“I like to help people,” Nathan said this week.

When Nathan learned he had won the bicycle from his sole entry in the promotion sponsored by P&L Country Store in Dexter, he asked his dad how long it would take before he could ride it. Because Nathan could not reach the seat, let alone the handlebars, his dad responded, “Not for another two years.”

That response started the gears turning in Nathan’s mind. He already had missed two fund-raising events at school held for Tyler, which left him feeling “kind of sad and guilty.” His first thought was to sell the bicycle and give the money to Tyler, but when he discussed his plans with P&L Country Store officials, they suggested he conduct his own drawing.

Because employees of the local Bud’s Shop ‘n Save will hold a benefit chicken barbecue supper tonight with sittings at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. at Dexter Regional High School for Tyler’s parents, Sandy and Scott Wintle, who are store employees, it was suggested that Nathan sell the tickets for the bicycle at the event.

Nathan considers himself a good salesman, having once made and sold jewelry assembled from the tabs from cans, so he plans to sell 2,000 tickets. The active boy also considers himself very lucky, so lucky that he always finds four-leaf clovers, nine of which he found this week in one clump.

So when the Dexter Primary School pupil gives the raffle proceeds to the Wintles tonight, he plans to tuck in a four-leaf clover to give them some of his good luck.

Anyone interested in helping the Wintles can send donations in care of Bud’s Shop ‘n Save, 37 Church St., Dexter 04930, or to the Dexter Region Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 233, Dexter 04930.