Landmarks light up for 30 years of Make-A-Wish
LANDMARKS around the country such as the Aviva Stadium and Trinity College are to be lit up in blue next week to celebrate 30 years of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Ireland.
Yesterday, Make-A-Wish recipient, eight-year-old James from Meath joined Lucy Kennedy to launch World Wish Day, the charity’s annual donation day.
James has spent significant time in hospital since he was born, undergoing a range of medical procedures including blood transfusions and two lifesaving bone marrow transplants in his first four years. He still attends Crumlin Children’s Hospital on a regular basis.
His mother Karen said: ‘At his Nightmare Before Christmas themed party, arranged by Make-A-Wish, to see him so full of confidence, full of magic, full of life was beyond our wildest dreams. It’s safe to say his party is the talk of the school.’
On April 29, Make-A-Wish Ireland
will mark its 30th anniversary with World Wish Day. In that time, the foundation has granted over 2,770 wishes to children living with life-threatening illnesses. This celebration also coincides with the 42nd anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organisation in the USA and, as a worldwide
‘Replacing trauma with hope’
organisation, it is responsible for granting more than 520,000 wishes globally.
Susan O’Dwyer, chief executive of Make-A Wish Ireland said: ‘Make-A-Wish receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of the general public.
‘We are organising a large campaign called “Wish Week” from
April 24 and culminating in Wish Day on April 29. During this week, we will revisit some of our wish children and their families over the last 30 years through the help of the media so as you can hear their stories and learn of the impact Make-A-Wish has had on their lives.’
Among the other buildings to be lit up in blue are NUI Galway, the CHQ Building, 3Arena, Waterford Civic Buildings and Westport
House. The charity said that more buildings and landmarks will soon be announced.
Stephen Meehan, chief executive of the Convention Centre Dublin and chairman of Make-AWish said: ‘Over the past year, 102 children nationwide, living with serious illnesses, have been the recipients of wishes. These wishes have helped give hope to their families and in many cases have helped greatly in the children’s medical journeys.
‘As we come out of the pandemic we are asking the public to get behind Make-A-Wish by donating what they can online at makeawish.ie/donate.’
Ms O’Dwyer added: ‘With hope, a child with a critical illness finds light in the darkness of their current circumstances. It transforms their perspective, replacing feelings of trauma with hope for tomorrow.’