Float for a Cause: Rochester Mom Brings 'Wish' Awareness to Parade

All across Rochester and beyond this week, community groups have been gathering in garages and barns and warehouses, as in years' past, to design and build floats for Sunday's .

For one crew of about 30, the float is more than just a part of the show.

They call themselves "wish families." That is, their children — who once were stricken with cancer or other illnesses — made a wish, and it was granted by Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. The foundation sponsors the popular at in the spring.

The ducks, and many of the children and families whom the organization has helped, will be riding on the float on Sunday.

It's all the passion of Donetta Behen, a Rochester Hills mom whose family was . Behen's daughter, Morgan, had brain cancer and made a wish to swim with dolphins.

"I am so passionate about Make-a-Wish because our daughter Morgan received her wish when she was all done with treatment for her cancer ... she was 8 when diagnosed," said Behen. "We had such a great time on our wish. It gave our family a time to heal. It gave us a whole week to become a family again and forget about what had happened."

Behen was joined by three other local wish families this week during a work session to build their float: the Pelleritos of Washington Township, the Suns of Troy and the Heughens of Rochester Hills.

Dave Thompson, the community leader for stores in the Rochester area, helped build the float. Walgreens has worked with Behen on the Rubber Duckie Race for the past three years.

Thompson said the float will feature four panels with photos, each representing a wish from the past four decades. This fits in with the historical theme of this year's parade, which celebrates 60 years.

"This is all about bringing our community together to support other wish families," said Behen, who said she hopes the float will raise awareness of the organization.

Did you build a float this year? Tell us your story in the comments!