Make-A-Wish Foundation UK
Make-A-Wish exists purely to grant wishes which change the lives of our children and their families. It’s a key part of our function that the whole family can benefit from a child’s wish. We aim to make a wish as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible for the families we help, so that a wish can offer hope, laughter and excitement, when often there has been despair, tears and medical treatment.
Neil Jones, Chief Executive
Website: www.make-a-wish.org.uk
Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses
Most of us are lucky and have a lifetime to turn our goals and dreams into reality. Sadly, there are some children who will never get the chance. Children living with a life-threatening illness – many of them with just weeks to live. Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK was formed in 1986 and has one very simple objective – to grant the wishes of these very special children.
A wish granted is true magic for the child and provides them and their families with hope, strength and joy at a time of uncertainty. Since 1986 more than 5,800 have searched the depths of their imagination to select their most heartfelt wish;
Make-A-Wish has turned their wishes into a magical and memorable reality.
Whether the wish is to meet someone famous, own something, visit somewhere or do something special, its coming true can bring a little sunshine into lives that have been dominated by pain and trauma, providing respite from their normal routines of hospitals, doctors and treatment.
When a child is stricken down with an illness, a whole family’s lives are directly impacted. In all possible cases, Make-A-Wish pledges to grant a child’s wish, regardless of its cost or complexity, and to ensure that immediate family members have the opportunity to participate in the wish. Wishes enrich the lives of parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members – replacing the pain and heartbreak caused by a child’s illness with laughter and joy.
Make-A-Wish has no cures to offer, and all too often some of our endings are sad, but during desperate time when there seems to be no hope, Make-A-Wish steps in and provides positive, immediate and uplifting relief. Most of all we provide a time of magic and joy for the children and families we serve.
Latest Wishes
15 year old Callum lives with congenital heart disease and has had several serious operations. He would like to be a police dog trainer when he’s older and Make-A-Wish was pleased to grant his wish for he and his family to spend a day at Surrey Police Headquarters in Guildford watching how the dogs are trained.
Callum’s Mum Laura said: “Make-A-Wish and everyone at Surrey Police has made this day one for us all to treasure and remember forever. Anything that makes Callum happy makes me happy. After everything he has been through, to see him smile means so much. Thank you!”
Amy, from Stithians near Truro, is 15 and lives with Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopment disorder which confines her to a wheelchair. The whole family was delighted when Make-A-Wish recently granted her wish for a specially-adapted bicycle, enabling her to enjoy days out with them – all together.
Amy’s Mum Karen said: "Amy will benefit so much from this wish, as it means we get to spend quality time together as a whole family. This will make such a huge difference to our lives.”