by James Caldwell, Assistant editor

Stories about wrestlers, such WWE World Hvt. champion John Cena, granting wishes through Make-a-Wish or meeting with disabled wrestling fans prior to wrestling shows are usually overlooked. It's viewed as part of the corporate responsibility of working for a publicly-traded company such as WWE.

However, one story about C.M. Punk and Shawn Michaels's interaction with seven-year-old Aubrey Raspotnik is worth retelling.

Aubrey was diagnosed with having a neuroblastoma on her spine, which is a cancerous tumor usually found in young children. After surgery, she must be monitored carefully and have blood work done frequently.

Her favorite wrestler is C.M. Punk and the Kids Wish Network worked with WWE to organize a chance for her to meet with Punk after last month's show in Tampa, Fla. Shawn Michaels, who knew about Aubrey's story, was also backstage for the meeting.

Aubrey is described in a press release as "a firecracker" with "nonstop energy and an extremely outgoing personality." Punk and Michaels commented afterward that she's the "cutest little thing" and inspired them before the TV taping.

Although WWE chairman Vince McMahon claimed to Congress that he doesn't think WWE wrestlers should be considered role models to the audience that watches the product, it's obvious children look up to the wrestlers for inspiration and hope, otherwise WWE wouldn't be such a valuable member of the charitable community.

"They know that what we do is a performance. So they know that everything we have are characters," McMahon told the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last year. "They are not real-life individuals. So I would suggest that no one believes any of these human beings are role models any more so than Batman."

That probably wouldn't fly with Aubrey, who met the human beings behind the C.M. Punk and Shawn Michaels characters that inspire her in the fight against the cancer that she's trying to overcome.

Thanks to Alicia True of Kids Wish Network for the information. Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org.

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