Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 21, 1995                   TAG: 9509210061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TONYA WOODS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GIFTS TO KEEP HIM IN SWING OF THINGS

Andy, whose leukemia was diagnosed in February, knew the Make-A-Wish Foundation was considering putting him on its wish list. But he had no idea he would be treated to a limousine ride to the Roanoke Country Club, where presents fit for a PGA golf pro would await him.

"I was totally surprised," said the 15-year-old sophomore at Glenvar High School. "It's great what they've done. I had been thinking about this wish for a long time."

If you had asked Andy two months ago whether he wanted the foundation to grant his wish of owning a set of Lynx Black Cat Irons, a set of Taylor Made Burner Bubble Woods, a Ping golf bag and a pair of Mizuno golf shoes, he probably would have told you he wasn't worthy.

"He didn't want to take advantage of anybody," said JoAnn Lesperance, his mother. "He was hesitant at first, because even though he has the disease, he just felt like he wasn't that bad off."

During a luncheon in his honor, sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Andy was also treated to a private golf lesson from Roanoke Country Club's golf pro, Phil Owenby.

"Andy's a great person," Owenby said. "And he eats, drinks and sleeps golf."

Golf has been almost like an escape from his leukemia, said Andy's father, Tom Lesperance. And receiving the presents from the Make-A-Wish Foundation was even better.

Andy started playing golf when he was 7 or 8. When he isn't playing with his father and his 17-year-old brother, Tommy, Andy plays in junior golf tournaments and on the Glenvar High School golf team.

The last tournament Andy played in was the Northstate Junior Golf Tournament in June in Raleigh, N.C. The first day of the tournament, Andy fared well on the green; but on the second day, he could hardly play because he was so tired and nauseated. He was given a special sportsmanship award.

"It was something he really wanted to do," Tom Lesperance said. "I'm just glad he wants to go out and play and not take the attitude of just staying home and doing nothing."

Andy definitely wants to play golf. But he says he's not ready to play with his new equipment just yet. Especially one club in particular, which was once owned by golf great Ben Hogan. This club will do better as art.

"We're going to hang it," Andy said.

The club was given to Andy by Payson Jones, wish coordinator for the Richmond and Western Virginia chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The foundation's chapter has been granting wishes of children between the ages of 2 and 18 who have terminal or life-threatening diseases since August 1987.

Covering 71 counties in Virginia, the chapter uses contributions to cover the expenses of each child's wish. The wishes usually are for trips, to be in a certain profession for a day, to meet a celebrity or for special gifts.