Apr 13, 2004

Arizona Teen is “living with AIDS” and excited about seeing Reba!

(Nashville) -- Country Thunder USA will have a very special event happening inside the jam packed April 22-25th scheduled staging of some of the biggest artists in country music!

Stephanie Ray, an 18 year old Arizona high school who was born HIV positive, will be a special guest at Country Thunder—thanks to SNA Graphics, the company that wrapped the new ‘Country Thunder Jeep Grand Cherokee’ that will given away in connection with this year’s event. Sergio Soto of SNA Graphics donated 4 premium Texas Roadhouse VIP packages for front row seats and backstage access for Stephanie to see her favorite star, Reba McEntire, who headlines on the Country Thunder mainstage on April 23rd.

Stephanie, who was not expected to live beyond the age of 2, has been a Reba fan since she was a small child. Facing a personal battle with AIDS, her family was especially moved with Reba’s release of the highly controversial hit single, “She Thinks His Name Is John,” which drew national attention to the AIDS epidemic. Commented Stephanie’s aunt, Cathy Stelter: “We were happy that a prominent person particularly in country music did a song about AIDS. The song is moving and touched us deeply. We all shed a tear the first time we heard it.”

Stephanie has no time for tears! An active teen, she lives life to its fullest—she and her family living daily by the motto: ‘Stephanie is living with AIDS, not dying of AIDS!”

Thanks to some good friends at Country Thunder USA, on April 23rd, Stephanie’s dream of seeing Reba not only perform, but getting to personally meet her idol, will come true.

The ‘Country Thunder Jeep Grand Cherokee’ is available for bids online in a charity auction to benefit ‘Every Kid Counts,’ an organization whose mission is to help young people of today become the leaders of tomorrow. More information about the organization is online at www.everykidcounts.org

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