The organisation marks 45 years of granting life-changing wishes this April with the launch of World Wish Month.
Make-A-Wish® International calls for “WishMakers”—donors, volunteers, and supporters around the world—to help the organisation reach its goal to bring the transformative power of a wish to every eligible child.
World Wish Month ends on April 29, World Wish Day, which celebrates the original WishMakers who granted 7-year-old Chris’ wish to be a police officer in 1980. This event sparked the global wish-granting movement, which resulted in over 615,000 life-changing wishes granted for children around the world with critical illnesses.
A 2024 research study has documented the powerful effects of the wish-granting experience on children with critical illnesses and their families, with 97% of children agreeing that a wish experience matters for every eligible child with a critical illness. It found lasting positive outcomes for children and their families, including positive emotions such as joy and happiness, better well-being and feelings of self-efficacy.
One child who has experienced the power of a wish is 6-year-old Jen from New Zealand, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Chemotherapy drained her energy and changed her once playful spirit.
Jen loves superheroes and wants to see the world from up high by flying in a helicopter. On the day her wish was granted, she soared above the city and even spotted her hospital below. After the ride, she and her family enjoyed a teddy bear’s picnic, a perfect ending to a magical day that enabled them to experience life beyond illness once again.
To learn more about becoming a WishMaker, visit Make-A-Wish International’s website.
Read also: $2 million raised by Hungry Jack’s Wishmaker campaign
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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