ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Although the 2024 Woodward Dream Cruise hasn’t officially begun, the party is, for all intents and purposes, underway in Royal Oak.
The cars may be classic, but the event never gets old, especially for Travar Pettway, who celebrated his birthday inside his dream ride.
It takes a village for driver Ziad Kassab to fulfill dreams year after year by giving a once-in-a-lifetime dream cruise ride for those with disabilities.
Pettway was hit by a stray bullet when he was 17, leaving him quadriplegic and on a ventilator.
Sarah Arbolgast is his nurse, and Johnnie Pettway is his mom.
“It’s his birthday today, so we are so excited,” said Arbolgast.
“I am so proud of him,” Johnnie said. “Letting him have this moment on his birthday is amazing.”
Kassab’s cause is called the D-Man Foundation. The D stands for Danny in honor of Kassab’s brother who was hit by a car at the age of seven.
Danny lit up when Kassab would take him out of his wheelchair and go for Sunday drives.
Kassab said everyone who rides is a brother to him.
“My heart is full every time we leave this event,” said Kassab. “And I’m so happy that today, I get to go with my homie Travar because we go way back and we’re about to have a great time today. We’re excited and I’m going to try to put some hair on his chest. Horsepower, baby.”