Tag: Make-A-Wish

Gaming community asked to unite to grant life-changing wishes for children

Gamers, gaming industry leaders and content creators are being asked to come together and help grant 200 life-changing wishes for critically ill children across the UK.  

Make-A-Wish UK’s Wish 200 Week between 24–30 July 2023 invites gamers to do sponsored live streams, challenges and special events to help raise money to make magical wishes come true for up to 200 children aged between 3-18 years-old.    

More than 63,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition and are eligible for a wish. That number is estimated to reach over 73,000 by 2030.  

Make-A-Wish UK has seen a 400% increase in gaming-related wishes since 2017, with more children than ever finding solace in gaming whilst undergoing treatment for critical conditions, meaning many of the wishes will go to members of the gaming community themselves.    

Since 2021 when Wish 200 Week was first established, the gaming community has come together to raise a staggering £696,000 and delivered over 300 wishes to critically ill children and their families, helping them to create long-lasting memories.  

11-year-old Cameron who lives with Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition resulting in several heart defects, got a surprise wish to meet YouTuber SB737. After hearing SB737’s voice, Cameron knew that he’d finally be meeting his idol.

“The surprise on his face was the best part of the wish! It was so special because it was something that money can’t buy,” said Mum, Victoria.    

“With a disability it’s hard for him to go out and play,” said Victoria. “Gaming allows him to play with his friends and it provides a way for him to escape reality as he immerses himself into the action of videogame characters.”  

For Cameron, his favourite part of the wish was being able to hang out with SB737 and play games together. Watching Cameron meet his idol was the highlight of the trip for Victoria: “I loved watching Cameron talk to him and share photos of the day with his mates. To see Cameron so happy is all I ever wished for, Make-A-Wish made that happen – so my wish has also been granted!” said Victoria.    

Under the campaign slogan, ‘1 Week, 20 hours, your way’ content creators including CozyGamerKat will be holding live streams with all the money raised will go directly to granting wishes for 200 more children and young people.   

Jason Suckley, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish UK said: “Gamers and non-gamers alike have the power to help us grant wishes for as many critically ill children across the UK as possible, many who have had childhood stolen away from them by their illness.

“We’re receiving a growing number of gaming-related wishes, which we know can leave a profound and lasting impact on critically ill children and their families. ” 

Gamers wanting to set up a live stream or special event can sign up to offer their support here and people can watch and support them to reach their fundraising totals.

Non-gamers can also take part and support those children who are waiting for a wish by entering the Make-A-Wish prize draw to win the ultimate gaming bundle consisting of a gaming PC built by Gaming Content Creator Sacriel, a gaming desk and chair bundle, Xbox and a PS5.

And for those who can’t take part during the week, are still able to complete their 20-hour challenge at a time that suits them.  

Miniclip, who have supported Make-A-Wish UK for many years, have now officially partnered with the charity and are once again supporting this year’s campaign.

Miniclip’s CEO, Saad Choudri, said: “This is our third year of supporting this incredible campaign. It’s great to see our industry come together to raise much-needed funds to help make these children’s wishes come true.

“Together, with our friends in the gaming industry and our players, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of these children.”  

Rob Small, President and Co-Founder of Miniclip, is a Patron for Make-A-Wish UK. Rob helped the charity to create the Wish 200 Week campaign. Rob said: “It has been a joy to see the gaming community coming together to help grant wishes for fellow gamers over the years.

“Seeing the support that Make-A-Wish has received, I am proud to be part of an industry that is using its power to help others. Wish 200 Week is an urgent campaign to ensure more children receive their wishes in time. I hope the industry will once again help them rise to this challenge and change the lives of seriously ill children.”  

Supporters and sponsors who are supporting the campaign include: Miniclip, Hutch, MTG, First Touch Games, Sports Interactive, Venatus, Tripledot and SUMO Group.  

To find out how to get involved in the campaign, visit: 

make-a-wish.org.uk/wish200week. 

Demand for wishes from critically ill children rising fast

The number of wish enquiries from seriously ill children with less than a year to live is rising fast and children’s charity Make-A-Wish UK is calling on people to help to meet this urgent demand now, before it’s too late.  

New statistics by Make-A-Wish, the charity which grants wishes for critically ill children, has revealed that the number of rush or priority wishes for children who have less than a year to live, doubled from 2021 to 2022 from 75 to 151. With 130 of these wishes already granted since September 2022*, that number is expected to go even higher this year.  

More than 63,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition and are eligible for a wish. It’s estimated that by 2030, this figure will have risen to over 73,000 and Make-A-Wish UK is worried that without support, they could soon be forced to turn critically ill children away.  

Jason Suckley, chief executive for Make-A-Wish UK said: “This year we have seen a sharp rise in the number of children with short prognoses. We want every single one of these children to experience the life-changing magic of a wish but sadly, the demand for wishes is growing faster than we can meet it. For these children in particular, every day counts. 

“When a child is diagnosed with a critical illness, the joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end; replaced by hospital appointments, gruelling treatment plans and endless worry. We’re appealing for the public’s generous support to help make more wishes come true for a critically ill child before it’s too late.

“Families can create lasting memories that they will treasure forever – no matter what the future holds. Their support really does mean everything to the children and families who turn to us.” 

Make-A-Wish currently grants on average about 1,000 wishes a year and right now, 1,124 seriously ill children like Oliver are waiting for their wishes to come true.

At just 18-months-old, Oliver Cheng from Leicester, was diagnosed with the incredibly rare genetic condition, FIG 4 neuro development disorder – a condition so rare it’s believed he’s just one of seven or eight children in the world who have it.  

With no treatment available, no one was sure how long Oliver had to live. “We were told to take lots of pictures and make as many memories as possible,” said mum Lia who wanted to find a way of bringing comfort to Oliver as often as possible, whilst she still could.  

After visiting a hydrotherapy pool and seeing just how relaxed Oliver became in the warm water, the family turned to Make-A-Wish who made Oliver’s wish of having a spa pool at home come true.  

“His eyes were glowing,” said Oliver’s mum Lia describing the moment Oliver saw his spa pool for the first time. “He spreads his body out, floats in the water and puts his hands towards the bubbles. He’s not able to do much but this is something fun that he can enjoy every day now and help relieve his pain. 

“We love to just sit and watch him relax. We know that our time with Oliver may be short, but Make-A-Wish have helped us make incredible memories as a family that we couldn’t make on our own. I don’t know how to thank everyone enough for what you have given us.” 

To find out more about how to support Make-A-Wish’s Spring Appeal campaign, visit make-a-wish.org.uk/springappeal.  

Sizzling Pubs team up with Make-A-Wish UK to make dreams come true

Sizzling pubs, including The Robin’s Nest in Edinburgh, are teaming up with Make-A-Wish UK to help make dreams come true for seriously ill children across the UK. 

As part of the ‘Sizzling Community Change’ campaign, the pub chain has set themselves the goal of collectively raising one million pennies for their charity partner Make-A-Wish UK, and other local community good causes, through a series of fundraising activities.

With over 243 pubs across the UK, Sizzling prides themselves on their sense of community spirit – and this partnership with Make-A-Wish UK will help make a real difference to the lives of children in the local communities that their pubs are at the heart of.

Currently, around 63,000 children across the UK are eligible for a wish because they have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. And Make-A-Wish UK aims to create hope, happiness and memories for the whole family to cherish by empowering children with the chance to choose a wish that’s unique to them.

The pub chain’s fundraising activity is set to kick off with the introduction of Sizzling’s ‘Light Nights’ menu, which will feature a charity dessert. The special Eton Mess Sundae will help raise money for Make-A-Wish UK, with 25p from each pudding being donated to the charity.

Tom Redwood, Operations Director at Sizzling Pubs, said: “Supporting local charities is part of what gives us our Sizzling spirit, and we hope this new partnership will help make a big difference to the lives of children and their families across the UK.

“We’re so proud to be supporting Make-A-Wish UK as part of our Sizzling Community Change campaign, and our charity dessert is just the beginning when it comes to the exciting fundraising activities we have planned for this year.”

Jason Suckley, Chief Executive at Make-A-Wish UK, said: “The power of a wish can revive a childhood stolen by critical illness. We are very grateful for the generous support of Sizzling Pubs, which will help Make-A-Wish UK be a light in the darkness for more children and their loves ones, granting wishes that leave a profound and lasting impact on all their lives.”

Discover which seriously ill children need help in your area and help make a wish come true using the Make-A-Wish UK ‘Wish Map’:

https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/wishes/wish-map/