On April 29th, Make-A-Wish Ireland will mark their 30th anniversary with the Light Up Blue Campaign by granting over 2,770 wishes to children living with life threatening illnesses. This coincides with the 42nd anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organisation responsible for granting more than 520,000 wishes worldwide.
In honour of the anniversary, Make-A-Wish is celebrating World Wish Day®, the charity’s annual donation day, and a week of festivities celebrating their Wish recipients. Make-A-Wish put out the call to corporations and public offices around the country to celebrate with them by lighting up well-known landmarks with the Make-A-Wish blue, and in doing so, aim to show the country the symbol of hope by harnessing the power to light up the darkness for every eligible child through the power of a wish. The campaign also shines a light on children waiting for their wishes to come true.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Joe Kelly, has given his full support to the initiative, and is delighted to announce that Waterford civic buildings will Light Up Blue on the eve and day of World Wish Day, 28th and 29th April.
Mayor Kelly says, “we were delighted to be one of the first counties in Ireland to offer our full support to Make-A-Wish and help this excellent organisation to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.”
He goes on to say, “over the past few years so many children here in Waterford, 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.”
Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer, CEO of the charity says, “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 the 24th April and culminating in Wish Day on the 29th April. 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. We are asking the public to support the charity with one week of fundraising to help a child in their local communities.”
Ways to get involved include setting up a fundraiser with your friends, family or colleagues; for schools, have a non-uniform day where the children wear blue to represent a Wish; or host a quiz night, or a community event to have some fun and make wishes come true. The public can get behind Make-A-Wish by donating what they can online at http://www.makeawish.ie/donate
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. They have renewed motivation to persevere and heal. A wish begins with hope, and hope begins with you.
Source: Waterford City & County Council
