ROCKWOOD, Tenn. (WVLT) – Walmart Heart hosted an event in Roane County on Saturday and helped make a child’s dream come true.

17-year-old Cole Canter is known to friends and family as a sociable person. Whenever he is around people, he is always seen with a big smile.

“Every time he came into the office with his big smile, he beamed at everyone. And it was incredible,” said Justin Bone, a truck driver at Walmart.

Cole, who lives in Kingston, has autism, developmental delay and seizure disorders. Despite his symptoms, people close to him say you’d never know what he was going through.

“It really does take a village. They say that about all children, but with people with special needs, you really need extra support. The support of the community, family and friends is really everything to us,” said Cherise Canter, Cole’s mother. “We wouldn’t be where we are today. Without all these people who love and support him, I wouldn’t be the social butterfly I am.”

Through Walmart Heart, they were able to celebrate Cole and enable him to achieve his dream of becoming a truck driver at Walmart.

“It’s not about Walmart Heart. It’s about these kids out here going through everything they’re going through with their parents, just to give them the reassurance that we care about them,” Bone said.

Bone organized the event for Cole. They named him an honorary Walmart trucker and he received a uniform, name tag, hat and certificate. He got to ride in the truck during a parade in his honor and a party at Walmart.

“There is so much bad going on in this world. Seeing the whole Roane County community supporting us puts a smile on my face,” Bone said.

All rights reserved.