Thursday, November 26, 2015

Children's Wish: A Season of Giving


It's that time of year again. Everyone is busy writing their Christmas lists, frantically looking for the right gift for a loved one, and planning their busy schedules of holiday events. It's also the time of year when people start to think about how they can give back in some way, and with New Year’s resolutions on the horizon, people often see their charitable side coming out.

There are countless different ways you can create a positive impact in your community - from helping out at a homeless shelter, donating to a charity, or participating in a food drive. These are all ways that a small contribution of your time and effort will have a huge impact in the life of someone else! This holiday season, as you search for ways to help, as you find opportunities to teach your children about gratitude and giving, consider donating to the Children's Wish Foundation, to help grant a wish for a child who is so deserving.

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life threatening illness. The Children’s Wish Foundation is dedicated to granting an exceptional wish to each and every eligible child. Children's Wish is a national charitable organization with chapters in every province. Since it was founded in 1984, it has granted wishes to more than 22,000 Canadian children.



The magic of a Wish provides children and their families with an opportunity to share the joy of a special experience, and an escape from the day-to-day challenges of illness and medical complexities. Children's Wish relies entirely on the generosity of its donors and volunteers to grant children their wishes. Now that the Foundation has broadened their reach to include children with serious genetic and neurological diagnoses, this year the Children's Wish Foundation will be granting more wishes than ever before!

As the parent of a child with severe cerebral palsy, I can only imagine the positive impact that a Wish would have, not just on the child, but on the entire family! As a Wish Ambassador, I am thankful for the opportunity to see the value and the benefit of these wishes up close. I have met a number of amazing "Wish Kids" and have spent enough time with "Wish Families" to know that having their child's Wish granted is a life-changing experience.

The holidays are a magical time of year and the perfect opportunity to give something back, so why not bring the magic of a wish to a child who truly needs it! Donating to the Children's Wish Foundation is one small thing that you can do to create big impact for families of children with life-threatening illnesses and severe neurological conditions.

Be a part of the Children's Wish Foundation's meaningful work this year by donating today!  
Click HERE to donate and support the Wish-a-Thon.


"Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body's white blood cells. Being told that your child has cancer can be a terrifying experience, and the stress of cancer treatment can be overwhelming for any family. Wish kids often choose to wait until their treatment is over and they are in remission before they go on their Wish trip - in these cases, the wish trip is an important milestone in the completion of a difficult journey through treatment. In other cases, time is of the essence, and kids can’t wait, and their rush wish has to be granted while they are still in treatment. Donate to Wish-a-Thon today to help grant a wish to a child with cancer."


"Cerebral palsy affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. It is caused by brain damage that can happen during the fetal stages of pregnancy or between the first 3-5 years of age. There is no cure, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help children with this disease. Modern science and advances in medicine have helped these children live longer and well into adulthood. But it can still make life extremely difficult for these children and their families. Donate to Wish-a-Thon today to help grant a wish to a child living with cerebral palsy."


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Another way you can donate this holiday season is through the RCMP Wish Tree Program!

The brave men and women of the RCMP have been lighting Wish Trees in their districts since 1991 in support of the Children's Wish Foundation. The RCMP Wish Tree Program started in the Trinity Conception District in 1991. This year, the goal is to raise $15,000 through the Wish Tree Program to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses across Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Get in on the excitement! Join a tree-lighting ceremony in your community and help create joy for a special child this season.

Below are the dates and locations of this year's RCMP Wish Trees:

November 15 - Bonavista
November 28 - Bay Roberts
November 29 - Harbour Grace 
November 29 - Hopedale 
December 1 - Forteau
December 2 - Lewisporte 
December 9 - Mary's Harbour

A very big, heartfelt "Thank You" from the Children's Wish Foundation:
"It means the world to us to have the generous support of our donors - everyday  people who help us deliver the magical, most heartfelt wishes to our Wish Kids and we never want to take them for granted." - Edie Newton, Director - Newfoundland & Labrador chapter

The world is full of so much good. May we all continue to benefit from both giving and receiving!

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