Like many children, 4-year-old Nick Zadak loves bulldozers, skid loaders and other earth-moving equipment, as popularized on such kids' shows as PBS' "Bob the Builder."

Tragically, Nick, who has pediatric liver cancer, may not be able to grow up to work in construction. His parents, Robert and Katie Zadak of Vancouver, Washington, fear that their son won't even be able to participate in the 2017 Dozer Days this spring.

So the Zadaks asked event volunteers if they could help arrange a mini Dozer Day for Nick.

Robert Zadak said in a news release that their son "absolutely loves all of the construction equipment and knows more technical terms for equipment than I do."

Stepping in to make the behind-the-wheel day happen was the Southwest Washington Contractors Association (SWCA), which partners with the Nutter Foundation to help coordinate volunteers for the annual event at the Clark County Fairgrounds.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, SWCA members, Excavator Rental Services and Catworks Construction fired up heavy machinery and donated staff time to allow Nick to drive and operate real construction equipment.

Organizers say Nick became best friends with equipment operators Gavin Washburn and Connor Lamb, and was named an honorary SWCA construction equipment operator.

The family has a Go Fund Me fundraiser for Nick, who has Stage 4 Metastatic Hepatoblastoma Cancer.

-- Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



