Betson Helps Make A Boy’s Wish Come True

For 13-year-old Riley Dinsmore, who was diagnosed with a progressive form of cancer, his biggest wish was to have his very own arcade full of vintage video games from the ’80s & ’90s.

Make-A-Wish was determined to grant this young gamer his wish of having an arcade room and had reached out to local arcade distributors for help. Betson was among the few companies contacted to help Riley’s dream.

“To be able to help this young man’s wish become a reality is something we are thankful for. Everyone at Betson hopes the game room brings Riley, his family, and friends great joy.” Robert Geschine, President of Betson Enterprises.

Riley’s wish was fulfilled, as the 13-year-old’s basement in Ticonderoga, NY, was transformed into a personal game room highlighted by three fully restored video games – a 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a 1991 original Simpsons, and a 1992 original Mortal Kombat. Betson came through with two 2010 games that look and feel retro but play new – Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash and Arcade Legends 3.

“I’ve always loved collecting retro games, and I’ve always been a huge gamer.” – Riley, 13

Check out the video here.

Betson’s Syracuse Branch Manager, Dave Reiners (second from the right), alongside his wife, Elaine, attended Riley’s wish reveal in Ticonderoga, NY.

UPDATE

New vintage video game store, That’s RAD!!, sparks nostalgia and community joy in Ticonderoga

The owner, Riley Dinsmore, opened the store after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager. He hopes the store will bring back memories for older customers and introduce younger people to classic games. Learn more.