EDWARDSVILLE — A former street racer, Bruce Anderscavage always wanted to get behind the wheel of a modern Chevrolet Corvette.

After Anderscavage was diagnosed with lung cancer recently, his doctor made sure he got his wish.

Anderscavage, 61, was given the keys to a red 2013 Corvette last weekend and zoomed all over the area in joyrides he said he'll never forget.

"They're quick. They are absolutely fast. I had fast cars all my life, but nothing like that," Anderscavage said. "That car was amazing."

He estimated he gave rides to about 80 people — from age 8 to 88.

The final ride before returning the car on Monday to Bonner Chevrolet in Kingston was with Dr. Richard Huntington, the family physician at Geisinger's Kistler Clinic in Wilkes-Barre who made it possible.

Anderscavage was waiting outside the clinic around 8 a.m. for Huntington to arrive at work.

"I said, ‘Do you have time to go for a ride?'" Anderscavage said.

Huntington said he'd make time and hopped in the passenger seat.

Anderscavage took the doctor for a ride up the steep, twisty road in Wilkes-Barre Township that is the course for the Giants Despair Hill Climb.

Huntington, who has been Anderscavage's doctor since 2003, said the cancer diagnosis immediately depressed Anderscavage and "took the wind out of his sails."

"I knew the way to inspire hope and excitement again was to put him in the seat of a Corvette," Huntington said.

Huntington said he got in touch with Rich Crossin, the president of Bonner Chevrolet in Kingston, to ask how he could get Anderscavage a Corvette to use for a weekend.

"Within an hour, he said, ‘Let's do this,' and within a day, the keys of the car were in Bruce's hand," the doctor recalled.

The car was full of gas, and they even gave him a gas card to fill up the tank. It was his from Friday to Monday. There was no charge for Anderscavage — or the doctor.

Huntington said it was a joy to watch Anderscavage drive his dream car, enabling him to get his mind off the diagnosis for awhile. He hopes the story inspires similar acts of kindness.

"This is a fine example of how to keep human intervention in health care. It ties you to the patient in a special way," Huntington said.

Huntington said Anderscavage is a "kind" person who is a great family man.

Anderscavage and his wife have two grown sons and they adopted six foster children who still live at home.

Anderscavage was overwhelmed by his doctor's surprise.

"He's one of the doctors who don't give up. He's just a nice man," Anderscavage said.

Anderscavage said he always joked with Huntington that he wished his wife could buy him a Corvette.

Driving a Corvette is off the bucket list, but Anderscavage isn't sure how long he has left to achieve other goals.

"I think he knows how bad the cancer is and he's just not telling me. It was a nice gesture by him," Anderscavage said.

Huntington said a treatment plan is still in the works and it was too early to know a long-term prognosis.

Anderscavage, who said he is a long-time smoker, seemed resigned to the fact his condition is dire. He had to leave his job as a mechanic for Bridon America in Hanover Township.

"What are you going to do? It's the hand you are dealt," he said. "They keep telling me to quit (smoking). I say it's too late."

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal