Bitsy Strawser of Middletown was astounded at the number of people, drivers and spectators who support the annual Mother's Day Make-A-Wish truck convoy.

"It's unbelievable," she said Sunday as she rode in the 20th annual convoy aboard the Rockvale Square trolley. "All this came about because of a little boy's dream to ride in a truck."

And Strawser should know. That little boy, who in 1989 wanted to ride in a big rig and talk to his sister Heather on the CB radio, was her son, Matthew.

Matthew and Heather, who both have a genetic neuromuscular disease, were part of that first convoy, which pulled out of the Lancaster Shopping Center parking lot with 44 trucks.

On Sunday Matthew, now 34, and Heather, 32, were back as king and queen of the 20th annual event.

"They just love it," Strawser said. "Matt doesn't have much to say, but he loves this and he looks forward to it every Mother's Day."

Heather's enthusiasm, her mother said, matches her brother's.

At precisely 1:30 p.m., amid the blare of truck air horns and the mournful wail of ambulance and fire engine sirens, the 370-vehicle convoy, 12 trucks fewer than last year, began pulling out of the Burle Industries parking lot.

Karolyn Wagner, 10, was riding in a truck driven by her grandfather, Keith Wagner.

"The kids love it," Keith Wagner said. "We do this as a family thing."

The Wagners, who live in Quarryville, have 10 grandchildren, all adopted or foster. Karolyn is the family's third wish child. Two others, Elaina and Harley, have since died, both without having their wishes fulfilled. Wagner's rig carried signs in their memory.

Karolyn did get her wish — a handicapped-accessable playground in her family's backyard.

"The kids enjoy it so much," said Karolyn's grandmother, Wanda Wagner.

Heidi Ney, 8, was being driven by her father, Duane, in a truck owned by Deer Country Farm and Lawn Inc.

"It's very special," Ney said. "It's so moving to see the support at this rally, and all along the way, with the spectators cheering you on. It means a lot to us, having a wish child."

Heidi had her wish fulfilled — a trip to Walt Disney World \h— in 2004.

"She had a wonderful time," said her mother, Lori. "It's just a great thing."

Duane Ney called the trip "something you couldn't buy for any amount of money."

Elvin Stoltzfus of Gordonville was driving in memory of Christian Lapp, the nephew of his wife, Keturah. The boy, who died last year at age 8, was born with a spinal problem since birth.

"He could never hold his head up," Keturah Stoltzfus said. "He could never walk or talk."

Seven-year-old Brian Weinsheimer of Lancaster was riding in a Sensenich Trucking rig driven by first-year driver Charles Wilson.

"I like hearing all the horns and stuff," said the son of Tiffany and Jack Weinsheimer.

Last year, Brian had his wish come true \h— a trip to Disney World.

"It was awesome," his mother said.

Creeping north along Route 222 at a top speed of 30 miles per hour, the convoy passed hundreds of well-wishers who lined the highway.

In farm fields along the route, horse-drawn buggies were parked. Their occupants, dressed in their Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, stood or sat waving by the roadside.

People waved and cheered from every overpass between Lancaster and Ephrata and sat on lawn chairs or in the grass on hillsides and exit ramps, and everywhere the trucks tooted a greeting back.

The convoy left Route 222 at Brownstown and continued north to Ephrata on Route 272 at an average speed of 15 miles per hour.

At Akron Borough Hall, and at two businesses, signs welcomed the Make-A-Wish convoy and children. A hand-made sign held by one spectator read "Truckers make dreams come true. Thanks."

Reaching Ephrata took an hour. There, hundreds more spectators waved as the convoy crawled along South State Street and turned onto East Main. One man handed out lollipops to children in the slow-moving trucks.

The convoy was so long that the last vehicle was leaving Burle as the lead vehicles reached Akron. On the return along Route 222, the southbound head of the procession passed the northbound tail end near the Oregon Pike exit.

The front of the convoy returned to Burle at 3:15 p.m.

Last year's event raised $350,000 for the foundation, said Make-A-Wish spokeswoman Debra Z. Kereczman. This year's goal is simply to exceed 2008, she said, but whether that's been achieved was not immediately known.

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com