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For 15-year-old Nick Wallace of New Port Richey, Fla., the movie "50 First Dates" was the catalyst that changed his life.

Nick, who's suffered from neurofibromatosis since birth, was making house calls with his stepmother, Kara, an in-home health care provider, when he was approached by Jerry Stevens. He asked Nick, "If you could go anywhere and either fish or hunt, where would you go?" Nick couldn't think of a response.

Stevens had noticed Nick in the neighborhood. His mobility was limited and he needed crutches to get around. Stevens explained to Kara that he was affiliated with Benefit 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization that grants outdoor life wishes to children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses. After getting better acquainted with Nick, Stevens offered to sponsor him for the outdoor adventure of a lifetime.

"At first I was like, 'Yeah, you'll get on a waiting list from one to four years and they won't do anything unless you're terminally ill," Kara said.

Nick's father, Jim, said he didn't think his son would qualify for a trip because neurofibromatosis isn't terminal.

Neurofibromatosis is genetic condition where several tumors are typically lumped in one area of the body, in Nick's case, his ankle. As Nick's neurofibromatosis worsened, it made walking difficult. In May 2007, Nick had his leg amputated below the knee.

"Since the amputation his whole life has turned around," Kara said.

"Things he couldn't do before he can do more now than ever," Jim said.

Though still skeptical, a persistent Stevens convinced the Wallaces to conduct more research on Benefit 4 Kids, and upon doing so, they found Nick qualified for a wish.

Benefit 4 Kids only has three qualifications applicants must meet: they must be under 18, must have a terminal and/or life-limiting disability and they cannot have had a previous outdoor wish granted.

All Nick had to do was decide where he wanted to go. It was the beauty of the snow-capped mountains that Drew Barrymore's character, Lucy Whitmore, wakes up to at the end of the movie that sold Nick on Alaska.

So it was set. Nick, who said he was by no means an avid angler, was headed to the Last Frontier for his salmon fishing trip of a lifetime.

"(Tami Murray) was instrumental in setting up Nick's trip in Alaska," said Al Baggett, the Benefit 4 Kids president.

Murray, who works at Soldotna's visitor center, received an e-mail from Benefit 4 Kids asking if she'd be interested in arranging certain accommodations for Nick's trip.

"It's a good organization and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Murray said.

Murray arranged for the Wallaces, who arrived in Anchorage on Aug. 11, to stay three nights at the Great Alaska Adventure Lodge in Sterling. Each day Nick, his brother Steven, and Nick's mother and father fished the Kenai River led by a guide provided by the lodge.

"The guides were awesome," Jim said. "They were patient with everybody. They just take care of everything right away."

Nick said his favorite part of the trip was when he reeled in a 15.5-pound silver. He also landed a 7-pound Dolly Varden. In all, the Wallaces went home with 42 pounds of salmon fillets, Jim said.

After leaving Sterling, the Wallaces headed to Seward and visited the SeaLife Center and took a Kenai Fjords Tours trip.

Their last night on the peninsula was spent in Cooper Landing, where the Wallaces had some free time for exploring and much needed rest.

"We'll probably fish forever after this," Jim said.

"It's a great organization," Kara said. "Everything they said that they were going to do they did."

"It's awesome," Nick said. "I'd want to come back, definitely."

"I didn't have any trouble lining up any of the locations for them," Murray said.

Murray, who's lived in Alaska for eight years, used to produce the TV show "North to Alaska," so she said she had several contacts, and, having lived on the peninsula for the past five years, she knew right where to fish for salmon.

"It's always a good feeling when you can help kids live out a dream," she said.

"All the people in Alaska were so willing to help. Every business involved was quick to say 'yes' and opened their doors," Murray said.

"Every trip that we do, we try to get the family out of their home state for at least a week," Baggett said. "From the time they leave their front door until they get home, they don't spend a dime of their money."

Baggett said Benefit 4 Kids isn't in competition with similar organizations. "We're all about the kids," he said.

"What sets us apart, we do anything pertaining to the outdoors."

According to Baggett, Alaska is becoming a more popular destination for Benefit 4 Kids wishes. This year, Baggett said the total number of wishes Benefit 4 Kids has granted since its inception in 1998 should exceed 50.

"We never forget a family," said Baggett. "They're not just a number to us."

"We are a 100 percent volunteer organization," said Baggett. "We don't need payment. Helping the kids is the only payment we need."

Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.