WishLife
The Make-A-Wish Canada
Bi-annual Newsletter
Celebrating Wishes Come True
®
seven blood transfusions and
a heart transplant by the
tender age of two months.
“It felt like he died 100 times,”
said his mother Andrea.
Ben Harris gets ready to board a WestJet flight to Orlando.
Ben was the first Wish child to benefit from the WestJet
partnership with Make-A-Wish Canada.
®
Ben Harris Makes
Make-A-Wish History
®
Along with his family, Ben, 9,
from Chaffeys Locks, Ontario,
was the very first Wish child to
benefit from the new WestJet
partnership. On March 20,
laden with gifts provided by the
WestJet pilots and flight crew,
Ben began his week-long Wish
trip to Disney World.
Born with an underdeveloped
left ventricle, Ben had undergone
Ben remains fragile and has
a suppressed immune system.
He’s checked regularly to make
sure his body isn’t rejecting his
heart, and it remains uncertain
whether Ben will require another
heart transplant when he’s older.
While at Disney World, Ben
hoped to get a photo of his dad
wearing Goofy ears, and he was
eager to watch the fireworks at
Cinderella’s castle.
“He’s a trooper, and he deserves
this trip” said Andrea. “With
everything he’s been through,
Ben should be a miserable child,
but he’s really very happy.”
IN THIS ISSUE:
Calendar of Events
Partnership News
DonorLife
Gifts of Love
Wishes Come True
Partnership News
Quinn Laudersmith, 3, shares the cockpit with WestJet pilot
Paul Ysselmuiden during the partnership launch festivities.
Partnership with
WestJet Takes Flight
Heartfelt emotions filled the
WestJet hangar in Calgary on
Friday, March 16, as an exciting
partnership between WestJet
and Make-A-Wish Canada was
announced.
Through their new community
investment program, WestJet
Cares for Kids, WestJet has
donated 800 single flights to
Make-A-Wish to help grant
the travel wishes of children
across Canada.
®
“We strive to empower all
WestJetters to make a difference
in their communities,” said
Sean Durfy, WestJet President.
“This Gift of Flight will have a
profoundly positive impact on
Make-A-Wish’s wish-granting
activities, while at the same
time empowering all WestJetters
to extend our caring culture
into communities all across
the country.”
The WestJet Cares for Kids
program was born from the
airline’s continued dedication
to supporting children’s health
and wellness.
Make-A-Wish Canada was the
first partnership announced.
Other WestJet Cares for Kids
charitable partners include Hope
Air, the Boys and Girls Clubs of
WestJet staff added their wishes to paper airplanes before tossing them
in the air, signifying the launch of the partnership with Make-A-Wish.
Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Canada, The Missing Children
Society of Canada, CNIB and
children’s hospitals and pediatric
wards across the country.
A Word or Two from the CEO…
It is with great pleasure that I share with you
my first message as Chief Executive Officer
at Make-A-Wish Canada.
Over the years, Make-A-Wish in Canada has achieved a number of
important milestones. From our modest beginnings of one regional
chapter in British Columbia that enabled a young girl to visit
her family in Germany – Make-A-Wish in Canada has grown to
become a national resource helping more than 2500 children from
coast-to-coast realize great moments of joy. Through our affiliation
with Make-A-Wish International, we have also been able to share
in the magic of a wish-come true by providing assistance in the
granting of wishes for children in other countries around the world.
®
I know, even after having been here only a short time, that without
the generosity of our many donors and corporate sponsors, we would
not be as strong as we are today. It would be impossible for us to
name everyone who has contributed to Make-A-Wish. But we want
each of you to know that it is only because of your gifts that we are
able to provide extraordinary experiences and wishes-come-true for
our Wish children. The more we talk about Make-A-Wish, and show
the astonishing effect a wish experience has on a young life, the
more referrals we receive from health care providers and friends and
families of our wish children. Ensuring that no eligible Canadian
child is ever denied their wish come true is a serious challenge for
us. Not doing so would mean we have failed in our mission to create
hope and happiness for children with life-threatening illnesses.
We continue to be blessed with long-standing and enthusiastic
partners from the corporate world, many of whom are highlighted
in this issue of WishLife. Developing more exciting opportunities
for corporate involvement with Make-A-Wish, on both the regional
and national levels will guarantee all wish requests will
be funded.
The true task of my role will be to listen to the needs of our chapters
and the communities-at-large and respond with meaningful
programs that will strengthen Make-A-Wish in Canada. Because
I believe that I will learn much from all of you, our donors,
volunteers, wish families, and staff across Canada, I strongly
encourage you to contact me or any member of the Make-A-Wish
team and make yourself heard. Like you, I too have a great passion
for Make-A-Wish and I can promise that your voice will be an
important part our plans for the future.
I am truly honoured to take on this role, and I greatly look forward
to an exciting and wish-filled year.
.
WishLife
is published twice a year
by Make-A-Wish Canada.
Margaret Valois, Editor,
[email protected]
www.makeawish.ca
Our Mission
Hope and happiness for children with
life-threatening illnesses, across Canada.
Make-A-Wish Canada reserves the
right to edit for content and clarity.
We hope you find the information in this
newsletter helpful and informative.
If at any time you wish to be removed from
this mailing list, simply email our office at
[email protected] or call us toll free at
1-888-822-9474 ext 202.
Board of Directors
Dave Stinton, President
Louis Sirois, Vice President
Fred Inglis, Treasurer
Harvey Delaney, Secretary
Blair MacLean, Immediate Past President
Stephanie Chan, British Columbia
Kerry Checkwitch, Southern Alberta
Len Hendrickson, Northern Alberta
Paul Huston, Southwestern Ontario
Mike McInerney, Toronto & Central Ontario
Mac MacArthur, Eastern Ontario
Marc Fortin, Quebec
Judy Gifford, Member-at-Large
Janis Ostling, Member-at-Large
Mary Jardine, Chief Executive Officer
Design Services
Torre Lazur McCann
Calendar of Events
Below are some of the many events and promotions occurring across
the country to benefit Make-A-Wish Canada. Contact your local
chapter for information about participating or volunteering at any
of these events. See back cover for contact information.
Date Region
Event
21-June
Toronto & Central Ontario
WCS Golf Tournament
22-June
Eastern Ontario
Bill Takas Golf Tournament
24-June
Southwestern Ontario
Share the Power of a Wish Walk/Run
25-June
Toronto & Central Ontario
MCB Golf Tournament
1-July
Southern Alberta
Running for Wishes
3-July
Toronto & Central Ontario
Speedy Golf Tournament
7-8 July
British Columbia & Yukon
World Cup Soccer Tournament
10-July
Toronto & Central Ontario
Audio Excellence Ferrari Car Show
12-July
Quebec
Day at the Granby Zoo
Toronto & Central Ontario BBQ at Simcoe Place
14-July
Quebec
Stanley Keg NHL All Star Game
Northern Alberta
Rumwal Fishing Derby
Toronto & Central Ontario Scavenger Hunt at Toronto Zoo
Southern Alberta
Scavenger Hunt at Calgary Zoo
25-July
Southwestern Ontario
Blue Night Reception
26-July
Southwestern Ontario
Golf Classic
®
30-July – British Columbia & Yukon
5-August
Timeless Destinations
Sci-Fi Convention
22-Aug
Toronto & Central Ontario
IPC Burlington Golf Tournament
24-26 Aug
Northern Alberta
North American Truck Drag Race
27-Aug
Toronto & Central Ontario
Children’s Day at the
Canadian National Exhibition
29-Aug
Toronto & Central Ontario
Bill Roth Golf Tournament
30-Aug
Atlantic Provinces
10 Km Run
7-Sept
Eastern Ontario
Coldwell Banker Golf Tournament
17-Sept
British Columbia & Yukon
BC Lions Golf Tournament
20-Sept
Atlantic Provinces
Golf Tournament
21-23 Sept
Quebec
48-Hour Ride for Wishes Marathon
29-Sept
Toronto & Central Ontario
Golf Marathon
27-Oct
British Columbia & Yukon
Endeavour Gala
21-Nov
Eastern Ontario
Three Wishes Gala
22-Nov
Toronto & Central Ontario
One Wish Gala
7-31 Dec
British Columbia & Yukon
B.C. Festival of Lights
Partnership News
International World of Toys entered
into a partnership with Make-A-Wish
Canada and Make-A-Wish Quebec
in 2006, by offering to donate a
percentage of sales from some of
their products, such as Dora the
Explorer, Blue’s Clues and other
Nickelodeon products.
retail ‘fresh bake’ industry under the
Buns Master brand.
Next time you’re shopping for toys,
be sure to check the label for the
Make-A-Wish logo.
Since 2000, Peoples Jewellers and
Mappins Jewelers across Canada
have been proud partners of
Make-A-Wish Canada, helping
make children’s wishes come true
through the sale of their Holiday
bears. At Christmas, Valentine’s
Day and Mother’s Day, very special
teddy-bears are available with a
minimum product purchase in all
Peoples and Mappins stores across
Canada. Since the partnership
with Peoples/Mappins began, more
than $850,000 from the sales of the
Holiday Bears has
been donated to
Make-A-Wish.
Make-A-Wish Canada
has been the charity of
choice for Country Style,
since 2003. Country
Style franchisees
and employees have
helped bring smiles to
children’s faces across Canada by
donating in excess of $420,000 for
the granting of wishes.
As the second largest coffee and
doughnut franchiser in the Ontario
quick service restaurant industry,
Country Style also operates in the
Located in airports across Canada,
HDS Retail has, for the past two
years, helped make dreams come
true for children through in-store
promotions throughout the year.
This past Holiday season, HDS
Retail introduced a ‘tis the season to
be a kid’ campaign, where proceeds
from the sales of special books,
Make-A-Wish paraphernalia and
‘wish stars’ were directed toward
the granting of wishes.
Through a partnership
with Make-A-Wish
Canada, McGregor
Socks is helping bring
comfort to body and
‘sole’, to many children. Proceeds
from the sale of McGregor “Happy
Foot” sock products sold in Canada
through Zellers and Wal-Mart are
donated to Make-A-Wish.
Employees of West 49,
Canada’s leading retailer
of skateboarding gear and apparel,
and Foot Locker Canada, a leading
supplier of athletic wear have shown
tremendous enthusiasm in their
support of Make-A-Wish.
Josias (front left) and brother Josias (front right) enjoy a vacation with their
family in El Salvador. With the help of Sony of Canada, the boys were able to
record their Wish trip through photographs and camcorders.
Since 2004, Sony of Canada Ltd.,
has supported Make-A-Wish
Canada by providing in-kind
products. As Canada’s leading
provider of electronic and
computer products, Sony has
helped make over 200 ‘electronicinspired’ wishes come true for our
Wish kids across Canada.
Eliel and Josias are energetic 14 and
16-year-old boys from Kingston, Ontario.
Both boys have cystic fibrosis and both
were offered a wish through Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Eastern Ontario.
®
Eliel’s wish was to visit his parent’s
native land of El Salvador. Josias’ wish
was to have the electronic equipment he
needed to properly record their exciting
family adventure.
Thanks to Sony, Josias was presented
with a DVD Handycam camcorder, and
a personal photography center fully
equipped with a digital camera, digital
photo printer and memory stick. The
entire family was thrilled that the boys
were able to document their Wish trip
and relive their happy experiences
over and over again by watching their
home-made DVD’s. As an added bonus,
they are now also able to communicate
electronically with their extended family
in El Salvador, thanks to Sony’s
generosity.
DonorLife
Join the Wish Angel Club
– And Make a Little Go a
Long Way
It’s Efficient: You’ll help reduce
It’s Beneficial: You can make a
our administrative costs by saving
money on donor mailings and
processing costs. You will receive
one receipt for the total of your
year’s gift at the end of the year.
much more substantial gift to
Make-A-Wish with greater ease
since payments are spread out over
the whole year. With monthly gifts,
Each and every day, without fail,
a little goes a long way. $5 each
children across Canada with life
month provides an annual gift of
threatening illnesses get to see their
It’s Flexible: If you decide to change $60. $20 each month provides $240
most heartfelt wishes come true
your gift amount or suspend your
a year! You also help Make-A-Wish
because of the financial support we
support, just call and we’ll promptly plan for a regular monthly cash flow
receive from donors, like you. Making
handle your request.
and, therefore, make commitments
a donation to any organization takes
to wishes, because unfortunately,
a very special commitment, and we
It’s Recognized: As a monthly
not all wishes can wait for someday.
recognize that.
donor you will receive an ongoing
That is why we developed the monthly window into our work through our
It’s Gratifying: Your gift will help
Wish Angel Club. It’s a great way for
newsletter full of heartwarming
us provide an awesome moment of
Make-A-Wish supporters to share in
wish stories, exciting news and
joy for a young child that will be
the joy of experiencing wishes come
event and volunteer opportunities
remembered by the child and his or
true – 365 days of the year.
from across the country.
her family for the rest of their lives.
You can become a member of the
Make-A-Wish Monthly Wish Angel
Club, by making a monthly gift
today. Each month your gift will
be conveniently transferred from
your checking account or credit card
directly to Make-A-Wish, on the
15 day of each month. This means
no cheques, no envelopes, no stamps,
no donor mailings, and no hassle.
Best of all, it means that more of
your donation goes toward what it is
intended to do – make wishes come
true for children.
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In return for your support of $20
a month or more, you will receive:
An “I am a Wish Angel” T-shirt
A ‘Wish Angel” Lapel Pin
A subscription to WishLife
An annual tax receipt.
The Benefits of Giving
Monthly
It’s Easy: Simply choose the amount
of your monthly gift and call us at
1-888-822-9474 to enroll.
Thank you.
A heartfelt ‘thank-you’ to all our loyal supporters whose contributions have helped create
magical moments of joy for countless children in 2006.
Gifts of Love In Honour of…
Tribute gifts are a thoughtful and meaningful way of expressing your good wishes or
commemorating a life or a special occasion. With a minimum donation of $75 Make-A-Wish
Canada will print the name of the person or family you choose to honour in the next issue of
WishLife. This is a great way to acknowledge a loved one while helping grant wishes at the
same time. The following gifts of love were made to Make-A-Wish Canada in 2006.
®
Jean Abramson
Robert & Judy Akitt
Frank Becker
Sarah Birtwistle
& Jean Phillipe LeBlanc
Ed Byrne
Lawrence Byrne
Richard Carson & Wendy Royal
Carly Chand & Bryan Nickel
Katie & Madeline Craig
Lindsay Hay
Karen Hennessey
Simon Hirschberg
Karen Hochman
Paul Hominick
Julia Horowitz
Mildred Hutchinson
Brett Ireland
Rebecca Johnstone
Ina Joyce
Corporal Christian Olchowecki
George Partridge
Patricia Piehler
Michael G. Platts
Jerry Ramsay
Eva Ritterband & Lance Levy
John & Louise Robinson
Enzo Rocca
Heidi Sander
Schad Family
Lise Crichton
Robert Croxall
Daly/Ptolemy Family
Baby Skalnik D’Angelo
Nancy & Steve Defer
Joe Diab
Employees of Crescendo
Systems Corporation
Brendan Fehr
Lucy Felice
Paul Ferretti
Victoria Flodell
Christina Fracke
Arnold & Barbara Klit
Alison & John Knapp
Norma Lachowich
Elizabeth Lakic
Joseph Roland Lambert
Stan Leader
Lisa & Jerry’s Wedding
Lowe Family
Mr. Markson
Shaun McKaigue
Greg Menzies
Dr. James F Morgan
& Mrs. Lisa Kojima
Craig Seager
Ann “Candy” Shanoff
Beth & Murray Shaw
Molly Shold
Nishna & Minowe Simpson
Sisson Farm
Anthony Steel
Samantha Switzer
Simon Taft
Robert Thiel
Adriana van Dalen
Betty & Harmon Westland
Grant Whalley
Joan Giflason
Jacob Glowacki
Goldberg Family
Edward Greenspan
Norman Harrison
Peter & Prudence Morton
Kathleen Mary Mulcahy
Bill Newell
Wilber Ernest Newell
Nicole Ng
Wing Wong
Katherine York
Randy Zapp
To make a tribute donation to Make-A-Wish Canada, please visit www.makeawish.ca or call 1-888-822-9474
Making Wishes Come True Coast-to-Coast
Wish child Alexander’s New York inspired bedroom make-over.
News From Make-A-Wish,
British Columbia & Yukon
®
Eleven-year old Alexander has never
been to New York, but he loved
the idea of a New York theme for
his bedroom. So his wish granter
Amanda got to work putting the
pieces together.
Atomic Themeworks transformed his
new bed and dresser into a checkered
cab. They also constructed a 3-D
Statue of Liberty, necessary for any
New York themed bedroom and of
course added a New York street sign.
Alex now sleeps at the intersection
of Wall Street & Broadway! A mural
of Times Square and a few well-placed
New York accessories completed
the look.
Everything for the room was rolled
in while Alex was out at a friend’s
birthday party, so it was an amazing
surprise when he returned home. He
couldn’t believe his eyes!
News From Make-A-Wish,
Northern Alberta
I spoke, my speech was slurred.
“My family was very scared.
“I was rushed to the Stollery
Children’s Hospital in Edmonton
where I was diagnosed with a disease
called Myasthenia Gravis which
occurs when muscles don’t get the
proper signals to move. I was very
weak and was put on heavy doses of
a steroid, called prednisone, which
resulted in my face, arms and body
becoming very swollen. My neck
couldn’t hold up my head and I
developed double vision. It was hard
to smile or chew food because my
facial muscles were so sore. I was
told that only sixteen children in
Alberta have this disease.
“I cried every night and for half
a year I lived in fear of what
would happen. I was terrified
that one day I would fall asleep
and never wake up again.”
“In July, I had a thymectomy, a
surgery to remove my thymus gland,
but complications meant I had to
remain in hospital on oxygen.
“By September I had recovered
successfully, and was able to go back
to school part time. But life didn’t
get a lot better for me. I hadn’t yet
recovered emotionally.
“It was about that time that we began
conversations with the Make-A-Wish
of Northern Alberta. We quickly saw
how caring they were. My wish was
to be able to walk the red carpet at
the Peoples Choice Awards. And
Make-A-Wish made that happen for
me. It was truly amazing.
“I was sent to Los Angeles for the
best week of my life. I felt I was
whole again. They made me feel so
normal. Make-A-Wish knows that
our wish is to live and get better.
They make us live by giving us
something to live for. That is hope,
and that’s what they gave to me.
Thank-you from the bottom of
my heart.”
News From Make-A-Wish,
Southern Alberta
®
Refurbishing a 1980 Firebird ‘junker’
was supposed to be a father-son
project that would give Tim Muters
and his son Steven years to bond
while tinkering over rebuilt engines,
exhaust systems and brakes. And
for a time work on the car was
proceeding nicely. Original tires
were found and a new muffler and
battery were installed. It appeared
the car would be road-ready by the
time Steven was old enough to drive.
But everything came to a halt when
Steven was diagnosed with leukemia
at age 13.
“When I was told that I could
have a wish from Make-A-Wish
of Southern Alberta, I was very
excited,” said Steven.”
®
As told by (Wish child) Jennifer
MacDonald
“February 8 was the day my life
changed. I was snowboarding during
a school ski trip when I fell and hit
my head on the ice. I had minor
concussion and spent a few hours in
the hospital in Jasper. I went home
expecting to have the normal side
affects. But then it got worse.
“Soon, I couldn’t get up from my bed,
and my right eye closed and wouldn’t
open again. I couldn’t walk and when
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Wish child Jennifer makes a stunning entrance as she walks the red carpet
at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
Wish child Steven stands in awe as he was presented with his refurbished
Firebird at the World of Wheels Motor Show in Alberta.
Making Wishes Come True Coast-to-Coast
Wish child Nicholas enjoys a visit from Mayor Clayton at Give Kids
The World.
®
“I thought of all the kinds of things
I could wish for, but most of all,
I wanted the car finished. I thought
it was a unique wish that could last
me a lifetime, because I could keep
the car in my family forever.”
Unknown to Steven and his family,
the employees of Cam Clark Ford
in Airdrie were working nights and
weekends to quickly complete the
restoration as a surprise for Steven.
It was at the World of Wheels motor
show, to which Steven and his family
were escorted in a limousine, where
Steven was presented with his
beloved Firebird
“The car was as much a gift for the
rest of the family as it is for Steven,”
said Tim Muters.
“We haven’t seen a smile on
Steven for a long time. It’s amazing
what this has done for him.”
Steven is still undergoing
chemotherapy, but in October,
he will be able to get his license
and finally drive his dream car.
News From Make-A-Wish,
Southwestern Ontario
®
Nicholas is a seven year old with
an infectious smile and personality
to match. But as much as Nicholas
loves telling jokes and making people
laugh, his true passion is trains.
Electric, collector or the real deal,
nothing interests Nicholas quite
like trains.
In June 2006, Nicholas was
diagnosed with Brain Stem Glioma.
When the very excited six-year old
was asked what his wish would
be, Nicholas, without hesitation,
requested a trip to Disney World.
He was aware of what Disney meant
and everything it had to offer as
it was a vacation his family had
discussed, and was hoping to realize
sometime in the future.
“I really wish I could explain what
this trip meant to us,” said Sylvie,
Nicholas’ mother in a letter to
Make-A-Wish Foundation of
Southwestern Ontario.
“Words are just not enough. In
the midst of our misfortune our
family was blessed with a funfilled, memorable week together.”
“If you ask Nicholas what the best
part of his trip was he’ll not say it
was Disney World, or Sea World,
although both were amazing and
magical. Instead, he’ll tell you how
he loved being at Give Kids the
World Village, where he could swim
in the pool, eat at the gingerbread
house, fish in the pond, and eat ice
cream any time of day.
®
“During this wish trip, our
family celebrated life every
single day. It was amazing to be
able to forget the threat of illness,
the medication and treatment,
the appointments, the worry and
the stress. Instead we rejoiced
and celebrated the precious gift
of life.”
“As you can well imagine, returning
home from that trip and back to the
reality that has become our lives has
been difficult. But we can’t thank you
enough for granting Nicholas’ wish
and allowing us to live a magical
week of dreams come-true. Thank
you, thank you, and thank you. This
experience will forever be etched in
our hearts.”
Special thanks to Rita Davis for
adopting Nicholas’ wish with funds
raised through her Kilimanjaro
Climb for Wishes.
News From Make-A-Wish,
Toronto & Central Ontario
®
Justin, a 14 year-old who loves
the NFL, hip-hop, and Sony
PlayStation, left the wintry cold
weather of Ontario behind as he
embarked on his Wish trip to see
the Volcanoes of Hawaii.
Justin and his family arrived in
Hawaii on December 31 , giving the
family an opportunity to celebrate
New Year’s Eve Hawaiian-style.
Once settled in Hawaii, Justin and
his family watched surfers ride huge
waves on the North Shore, as well
as learned about village life at the
Polynesian Cultural Centre, and
observed fish, coral, and monk seals
at the Waikiki Aquarium.
The highlight of the trip was the
helicopter ride in Volcano National
Park. Not only did Justin and his
family fly over the park, but they
walked in a lava tube, watched lava
pour into the ocean, and saw the
smoke of the Kilauea volcano. Justin
even climbed part of the way up
Mauna Loa.
According to Justin,
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“The trip to Hawaii was the
best thing I have done ever.
Hawaii was so warm and there was
so much to do, I didn’t want to come
“There is nothing like this in Canada!” Justin and his little brother explore
Hawaii’s flora.
Making Wishes Come True Coast-to-Coast
home.” While Justin may not have
wanted to come home, he did bring a
little piece of Hawaii home with him
in the form of a Hawaiian shirt and
tiki bank.
News From Make-A-Wish,
Eastern Ontario
®
Thanks to Lorraine O’Quinn of Royal
Lepage ProAlliance Realty and her
colleague Andrea Davies, Make-A-Wish,
Eastern Ontario was able to bring
strength, hope and joy to Philip, a
nine-year old from Trenton, Ontario.
O’Quinn and her colleagues organized
the Trenton edition of the
St-Valentine’s Day Hair Massacre,
and part of the proceeds helped fund
the granting of Philip’s wish.
Philip’s condition includes lungs
weakened by several battles with
pneumonia and numerous congenital
heart problems. To brighten his
spirits, Lorraine and Andrea together
with the help of Make-A-Wish
organized a day packed with fun.
It began at CFB Trenton’s Bakers
Island, where Philip and his family
were greeted by Spider-Man, Philip’s
favourite superhero. Lt.-Col. Chuck
Collings, commander of the base’s
424 “Tiger” Transport and Rescue
Squadron, placed a squadron hat on
Philip’s head just before a yellow
CH-146 Griffon rescue helicopter flew
a low overhead pass. Collings gave
Philip a handheld radio, coaching
him on what to say next.
“Tiger 493, this is Tiger 1,” said
Philip. “You are cleared for hoist
descent.”
With that, Sgt. Darryl Cattell, a
search and rescue technician, was
lowered from the Griffon’s side door
to the ground as he held a bright
orange bag. Together Cattell and
Spider-Man began pulling gifts from
the bag and handing them to Philip,
who quietly accepted. From the island
the group then traveled to Philip’s
school, where classmates wished him
well before he went off on a shopping
spree at Belleville’s Sony Store. Later
that afternoon, the family stopped
at the Empire Theatre for a private
screening, traveling from place to
place in a white stretch limousine.
“Every day we think ‘today could
be our last day; let’s make it a
good one,’” said Philip’s step
father. “Today was so much fun.
Thank you.”
News From Make-A-Wish,
Quebec
®
The dream of climbing Africa’s tallest
free-standing mountain to make
wishes come true for children was an
exhilarating success!
On January 29, 2007, twenty-nine
ardent friends of Make-A-Wish,
Quebec traveled half way around
the globe to Tanzania with the goal
of raising awareness and the funds
needed to grant wishes to twenty-
five children with life-threatening
illnesses.
Under the discerning guidance of
achieved Mount Everest climber,
François Langlois, the adventurers
faced both physical and mental
challenges in meeting the demands
of high altitude and bitter cold
during their nine-day climb.
On February 8 , 2007, all twentynine climbers successfully reached
the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
th
Daily reports on the progress and
health conditions of the team,
including photos, were sent via
satellite telephone to the www.
faisunvoeu.ca/kili/en web site. This
allowed the family and friends of
the climbers to follow their progress
and to share in all the experiences
encountered during the six to eight
hours a day of climbing.
The Climb For Wishes goal was
to raise $150,000, and more
than $250,000 was raised by
the committed and passionate
climbers!
Congratulations to all the climbers,
and a special thanks to sponsors,
the Forzani Group, CanWel, The
North Face, Scotiabank, Cébé, Buff,
Spiegel Sohmer, Fuller Landau,
and Burgundy Asset Management.
Lastly, we give our eternal gratitude
L to R: Philip was greeted by his favourite superhero Spider-Man;
M. Lt.-Col. Chuck Collings holds the radio as Philip gives commands
to the helicopter; The entire school came out to wish Philip well on
his Wish day.
Making Wishes Come True Coast-to-Coast
Owen MacNeil (right), along with friends and climbing guides, unfurls a Make-A-Wish
banner at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro;
and snow as well as incredibly hot
and cold temperatures, successfully
reached the summit.
to François Langlois who, with
passion and dedication trained and
led the team to success.
News From Make-A-Wish,
Atlantic Provinces
®
The Atlantic Chapter has been busy
raising funds through a variety of
activities in order to grant wishes to
local children.
On February 18 , Aaron van Vulpen
and Owen MacNeil, both from Nova
Scotia, succeeded in their quest to
reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The two men were among a group
of eight others who, despite the
inhospitable conditions of rain, sleet
th
Children wait anxiously for the boxes of “Mac & Cheese” to topple.
According to MacNeil, the
challenges and tests he faced
on the mountain were much
like those he believes sick
children must endure every
day of their lives.
MacNeil’s climb raised $20,325 and
van Vulpen raised $2,000, together
contributing enough to fund wishes
for three children in the Atlantic
region. Many local businesses and
individuals contributed to McNeil’s
climb, including four Cape Breton
schools that organized the “Mac and
L to R: The Climb for Wishes Team from Quebec at the summit of Mt. Everest; A local resident smiles as her hair,
previously dyed pink, is shaved off in a show of support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Atlantic Provinces.
Cheese Challenge”, raising $3,285
through the sale of boxes of macaroni
& cheese at $2 per box.
On St. Valentine’s Day, more than
70 people also participated in the
first head shave/hair cut at the
Halifax Shopping Centre, raising
over $7,000. While some shaved their
heads for the cause, others donated
their cut hair to make wigs for those
who have lost their hair due to
cancer treatment.
Making Wishes Come True Coast-to-Coast
Wishes Impact Lives
Believing that no child should live their life without knowing that their dreams and wishes
can come true, Make-A-Wish Canada and the health care community are convinced of
the tremendous power of a wish come true.
“Like many doctors, I was at first skeptical about how the granting of a wish could have
an impact on a child. But, I have personally witnessed a change in the strength of many
children; simply through the hope and the joy they derive from seeing their wish come
true. I now believe, and strongly encourage the child and their family to think of a wish
and consider Make-A-Wish as a way of helping them through their illness.”
- Dr. Eric Bouffet, Hospital for Sick Kids
Wishes Granted by Make-A-Wish Canada
Year
Total Wishes Granted
Total Wish Assists
2004
292
39
2005
296
44
2006
317
54
Make-A-Wish Canada is privileged to serve the wish granting needs of children in Canada, creating hope, happiness
and cherished memories.
We’ve Been Busy
Driving for Wishes
with Team Alpine
Wish Child Marrina, of
Amherst Head, Nova Scotia,
was the recipient of a
Make-A-Wish trip to Disney
World, thanks to Ohan
Korlikian and Richard Cox.
The two men drove from
Vancouver to Newfoundland
in a 1967 Sunbeam Alpine
V Sportster to raise both
funds and awareness of
Make-A-Wish along the way.
Ohan personally raised more
than $11,000 which enabled
Marrina to live her dream
of having tea and biscuits
with Cinderella, Snow White
and Belle.
We’ve Been Busy
Staff from the Victoria Hospital and the Thames Valley EMS Paramedic
Team show off their newly-shaved heads as part of the Hair Massacre
in Southwestern Ontario.
of reminiscing, video clips and
conversations with the team
members, a cheque for $170,000 was
presented to Make-A-Wish Canada
President, Dave Stinton.
Gala
On Thursday, November 23 , 2006,
over 500 guests attended the One
sales
of
selected
desserts
to
help
make
Wish Gala in Toronto for a magical
Hair Today,
dreams come true for children with
evening of enchantment and
Gone Today
life-threatening illnesses. Desserts
merriment. Dressed in black tie and
On February 13 and 14, pink and blue were presented with a candle in it,
“fairy tale” attire, the guests enjoyed
heads of hair across the country were allowing customers to make their
a fabulous night of cocktails and
shaved as part of the St. Valentines
own special wish.
dinner, followed by entertainment by
Day Hair Massacre in support of
Proceeds from the Sweet Dreams
Jann Arden, the Juno award winner
Make-A-Wish. Begun in 2002 in
Dessert promotion held in British
for best female artist, songwriter,
Edmonton, ‘The Hair Massacre’ has
Columbia helped send six year old
and single of the year. The event was
grown to become a national event,
hosted by Ben Mulroney, and also
Casey on his wish to go on a Disney
raising funds for children’s charities
featured appearances by Toronto
cruise.
and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Argonauts Head Coach, Mike
This past Valentine’s Day, head
Two Winning
“Pinball” Clemons, and comedian
and mustache shaving events
Teams Celebrated
Sean Cullen. The event netted
held in Halifax, Ottawa, London
$140,000 thanks to sponsors, Rosseau
It was forty years ago that the
and Edmonton raised in excess of
Asset Management, Disney; Acuity
$220,000 to grant wishes for children Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club
Wealth Management, Mackenzie
last won the coveted Stanley Cup.
with life threatening illnesses.
Financial, IPC, Golden Gate Funds,
Since that time, fans of the team
McGregor Socks, The Printing House,
Sweet Dreams Desserts have longingly embraced that
championship and the team members WestJet, the Globe & Mail and CTV.
On Sunday, April 29, Sweet Dreams
The next One Wish Gala will be held
that made it happen. An evening,
Dessert Day was held in centers
on Thursday, November 22, 2007 .
in tribute to the members of that
across the county to celebrate
winning team was held at the
the anniversary of the first wish
L to R: Casey, 6, received his wish for a Disney cruise thanks to proceeds
from the Sweet Dreams Dessert promotion in British Columbia. M. Members
Convention Centre in Toronto
ever granted by Make-A-Wish.
of the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team reunited in support of
in March, benefiting Make-A-Wish
Participating restaurants donated
Make-A-Wish Canada. R. A young Leafs fan shows off his team jersey,
autographed by members of the 1967 team.
100 percent of their proceeds from the Canada. After a fun-filled evening
rd
We Get Mail
John and Pat Mathurin, (holding a photo of granddaughter Shawna) welcome donations to Make-A-Wish during a garage sale
held in memory of their granddaughter
The “Bubble-Gum Trooper” Chris Greicius
®
Chris’ Story
Dear Make-A-Wish, Nine years ago, we lost our young
granddaughter Shawna to leukemia. Approximately 12 years ago,
Shawna was granted a wish through your foundation and she spent
a glorious fun-filled week with her mom at Disney World in Florida.
She talked about the experience for some time afterwards, and
we will always be grateful for her wish. As we approach the 10
anniversary since she left us, my wife and I have been discussing
having a yard sale and donating all the proceeds to the Make-A-Wish
th
Foundation in memory of Shawna Mathurin.
We had our yard sale and all went well. I was surprised at the
number of folks who came over to simply make a donation without
taking something. As well, there were a number of people who told
of their happy experiences where a friend or family member was
granted a wish. We raised $300.00.
Many thanks to all at the foundation for doing terrific work.
Regards,
Pat and John Mathurin
All his life, Christopher James
Greicius dreamed of becoming
a police officer. In his eyes, the
police represented strength,
power, and the goodness in
life. Chris’ dream meant more
than anything to him, but
even he couldn’t have known
that his wish would serve as
the inspiration for the largest
wish-granting organization in
the world.
Chris and his mother Linda had
become friends with U.S. Customs
Officer Tommy Austin in 1977. The
first time Chris met Tommy, Chris
displayed his law enforcement skills
by telling him, “Freeze, I’m a cop!”
An instant friendship was created.
Tommy had promised Chris a ride in
a police helicopter, and in the spring
of 1980 – when Chris’ condition
worsened – Tommy contacted Officer
Ron Cox at the Arizona Department
of Public Safety (DPS) about making
Chris’ wish come true. Ron was more
than eager to oblige, and he recruited
other DPS members to create a
magical experience for Chris.
Frank presented Chris with
the wings. Chris’ smile lit up
the room.
April 29 , 1980, was Chris’ special
day – when Chris’ wish was granted.
He called Tommy early in the
morning and reminded him. “You
haven’t forgotten? I’ve been up for
an hour and I’m ready to go.” Ron
arranged for a DPS helicopter to pick
up Chris and escort him around the
city of Phoenix, landing at the DPS.
Three squad cars and a motorcycle
ridden by Officer Frank Shankwitz
welcomed their new friend. This
7-year-old bundle of energy
immediately greeted Frank and
told him how “neato” his motorcycle
was; however, he passed on a ride,
citing a lack of doors as his primary
reason.
Chris was known as the “Bubble
Gum Trooper” among his law
enforcement buddies. He went
nowhere without his trusty bubble
gum. He even took time out of his
busy day to share a pack of bubble
gum with the director of DPS. To
top off what had already been an
incredible day for this little dynamo,
he was sworn in as the first ever
and only honorary state trooper in
Arizona history.
The following day Ron contacted a
company about making a uniform for
Chris. The company was so moved
th
by Chris’ wish that it decided to
get involved in adding to his wish
experience. The owner and two
seamstresses worked all night to
custom tailor a highway patrolman
uniform for Chris. On May 1 ,
several officers presented Chris,
whose illness had taken a turn for
the worse, with an official Arizona
Highway Patrol uniform.
Chris had been fascinated by the
motorcycle wings Frank wore on his
uniform, and Frank explained that
Chris needed to pass a motorcycle
proficiency test before the wings
could be presented to him. The
officers set up a motorcycle course
where Chris could take his test on
his battery-operated motorcycle.
Needless to say, Chris passed with
flying colors.
On May 2 , 1980, Chris was back in
the hospital. He was so proud and
happy about being a patrolman that
he asked that his uniform be hung
in the window of his room and his
motorcycle helmet and “Smokey the
Bear” hat be placed on his dresser so
he could see them. To make Chris’
wish even more complete, Frank
ordered a set of uniform motorcycle
wings. With Linda’s blessing,
st
nd
The following day, Chris Greicius
passed away, but not before having
realized his greatest dream.
Chris was to be buried in Kewanee,
Illinois. DPS spokesman Allen
Schmidt promised that two Arizona
officers would make the trip to
Illinois to say goodbye to Chris.
Scott Stahl, a DPS officer and
a native of Joliet, Illinois, joined
Frank Shankwitz on the sad mission.
On the flight back to Arizona,
Frank and Scott were reflecting
on Chris’ magical experience.
They saw how happy Chris was
knowing his wish came true, and
that the wish seemed to take
some of Chris and Linda’s pain
away – replacing the anguish with
smiles and laughter.
They thought that if one boy’s
wish could be granted, maybe
the same could be done for
other children. At that moment,
the idea of the Make-A-Wish
Foundation was born.
The Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish
Memorial – which later became
known as the Make-A-Wish
Foundation – was born.
Warning and Alert
Make-A-Wish
Canada Does Not
Participate In Chain
Letters, Telemarketing
or Door-to-Door
Fundraising Campaigns
Each day, Make-A-Wish Canada
receives numerous inquiries
regarding chain letters,
telemarketing or door-to-door
fundraising campaigns claiming to
be associated with Make-A-Wish
encouraging people to take action
on behalf of seriously ill children.
As a matter of policy, Make-A-Wish
Canada does not participate in any
of these types of solicitation. Should
you receive a telephone call, an
email, or should someone come to
your door claiming to be raising
funds on behalf of the Make-A-Wish
Canada or a child involved with
Make-A-Wish Canada, please contact
our Canada Office immediately.
The following false chain
letters are currently
circulating in Canada:
chain letter on Myspace.com claims
that a 21-year-old named Brian
Douglas, who is suffering from a
brain tumor and lung cancer, will
Amy Bruce (also known as 15-year
receive 7 cents from Make-A-Wish
old Kayla Wightman) This InternetCanada each time her letter is
based chain letter claims that a 7forwarded via e-mail. This request
year-old girl named Amy Bruce, who
is also false.
is suffering from a brain tumor and
lung cancer, will receive 7 cents from
If you receive a chain letter…
Make-A-Wish Canada each time her
• Please do not forward the
letter is forwarded via e-mail. This
request is false. Craig Shergold
chain letter
(also known as Craig Sherwood,
• Please reply to the sender
Craig Sheppard). In 1989, a
and inform them that the
then, 9-year-old by named Craig
Make-A-Wish Canada does
Shergold wanted to be recorded in
not participate in these
the Guinness Book of World Records
for receiving the most greeting cards.
kinds of wishes
His wish was fulfilled in 1990 by
• Refer the sender and
another wish-granting organization
all recipients to this
not associated with Make-A-Wish
information on the web site
Canada after receiving more than 16
million cards. Craig is now a healthy
at www.makeawish.ca
adult, and he has requested an end
to the mail. Mail that is received
is forwarded to a recycling center.
Brian Douglas This Internet-based
Get Involved With Your Local Make-A-Wish Chapter
®
For more information on fundraising, volunteering or wish-granting opportunities
to help your local Make-A-Wish chapter, just give us a call.
Make-A-Wish, British Columbia & Yukon
Make-A-Wish, Northern Alberta
604-688-7944
780-444-9474
Make-A-Wish, Southern Alberta
403-228-3666
Make-A-Wish, Southwestern Ontario
519-471-4900
Make-A-Wish, Toronto & Central Ontario
416-223-2620
Make-A-Wish, Eastern Ontario
613-234-3555
Make-A-Wish, Quebec
514-488-9474
Make-A-Wish, Atlantic Provinces
902-466-9474
Make-A-Wish, Canada
1-888-822-9474