Li'l Speed-ster gets his motocross wish; 'Make-a-Wish' Foundation benefits child afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis

With a name like Caleb Speed, he was meant to be in motorsports.

Was there really another option for this little 3-foot, 10-inch tyke who sped around the motocross track Saturday night at the Mill Pond?

For those who witnessed this little motocross-buff – and others like him – encircle the track on little peewee 50cc bikes,  the answer to that question is unequivocally: “No. He was destined for this.”

The fact this little 52-pound dynamo could even dream of competing in motocross is amazing because about six years ago – at a month old – he cheated death.

“He was so sick, he actually died on us. He stopped breathing and his heart quit,” said mother Amber Speed. “I just freaked outside the emergency room when I saw them rush in with the (defibrillator) paddles.”

Little Caleb Speed was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a debilitating disease that affects the lungs and their ability to function. However, since the day his heart stopped and nearly caused his mother’s to do the same, this little Speed demon has been improving. And, thanks to a Libby woman, his dream of racing in motocross came true.

   However, that’s not all Danielle Bundrock was able to kick start.

   Bundrock may not really be an angel, but in the star-struck eyes of a 6-year-old and his family, she is. You see, Bundrock is a wish-granter with the “Make a Wish” foundation, and she arranged to not only get this li’l Speedster into the motocross race for free, but she has arranged for Caleb, his mother and two siblings an all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World for six days.

   “It’s going to be amazing. To be able to do this and take the whole family is just great. We’d have never been able to go without this,” said Amber Speed, a single mother.

   The trip will be this family’s first outside of Montana and their first time on an airplane.

   “It’s going to be a time of a lot of firsts,” Bundrock said.

   Bundrock said the ability to grant Caleb Speed’s wish comes from so many at the Make-a-Wish Foundation and even local contributors, specifically mentioning Linda Remp and “Dream Marine” of Libby.

   “They were just so good,” Bundrock said. “They even donated a (motocross) jersey with his name on it and the No. 141 of Andy Remp.”

   Caleb took a pre-race lap with Remp and held an American flag as the National Anthem played during the opening ceremony.

   Asked about what all the attention means to him and this little dynamo clams up and hides his face.

   “Don’t’ feel too badly,” Bundrock offered. “It took an awfully long time for him to open up to me, too.”

   But then, Caleb’s mother chimed in.

   “This is just so really great,” Amber Speed said. “I just want to thank Danielle, the ‘Make a Wish’ Foundation, everyone.”