Trips to tropical islands and theme park adventures are among the most coveted wishes granted to children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Since travel is not safe or practical now, The Foundation had to find other ways to grant children’s wishes. The kids themselves provided the answer.
Since the onset of the pandemic, requests for animal companions have quadrupled. As a cuddly alternative, kids are choosing pets for daily companionship and comfort through often painful or debilitating treatments.
The flood of inquiries for pets inspired the “Wags to Wishes” campaign, an online photo contest open from March 1-15 in Oregon. A suggested $5 donation lets you chose one or more favorites from among more than two dozen entries (and growing). There is no limit to the number of times one can vote. Monies raised help bring kids and companion animals together. To date, the campaign has raised more than $9,000 toward its $10,000 goal.
Two of the entries are former Make-A-Wish recipients. Cameron Kirks was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis at age four. Langerhans is a rare cancer where excessive immune system cells build up in the body. After 22 rounds of chemo, Cameron is cancer-free. Just before the shutdown last year, the Foundation sent Cameron, now age six, and his family to Disney World Orlando. His biggest recent accomplishment was learning to ride his bike without training wheels. In his contest photo, Cameron mugs with his dog, Lucy.
Tyler Samuel was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at age six. He is now 17 and a high-school senior. Last year, Tyler went on his dream shark fishing trip in the Florida Keys. “You’re going to be in this spot for a little while,” Tyler told KGW News. “But once you’re out of that spot, you’re going to look back and say, ‘I’m a better person for the things I went through’.” Tyler and his pup, Benji, pose together in their contest pic.
In other states, a portion of the proceeds has benefitted local animal welfare groups. Vermont Make-A-Wish partnered with the Humane Society of Crittenden County to raise almost $6,300.
“Hope is not cancelled,” said Kaitlyn Bolduc, public relations and communications manager for Make-A-Wish Oregon. “ . . . We are determined to do everything we can to make sure these kids get their one true wish.”
Bolduc said that there are nearly 300 children living in Oregon and Southwest Washington who are waiting for their wishes to come true. The Wags to Wishes campaign feeds their dreams with hope.
Since its inception almost 40 years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted hundreds of thousands of wishes to children enduring critical illnesses. The foundation serves the U.S., its territories and 50 countries worldwide.