Latest Wishes - Lucy’s cookery lesson

Lucy from Devon wanted to meet her favourite CBeebies chefs. We thought it sounded like a good recipe for a wish and – with the help of some friends – we made it happen.....

Lucy, aged eight, from Exeter and fighting Dravet Syndrome (a severe form of Epilepsy), is crazy about cooking and loves to help out in the kitchen. She watches all of Big Cook Little Cook’s programmes and wanted to meet the stars and cook with them. As Lucy has a low carbohydrate diet due to her illness she is very interested in food and is always trying to think of new ways to cook.

Lucy and her sister Katie, who lives with Cystic Fibrosis, were whisked to the Kids’ Cookery School in Acton, London – a charity organisation which teaches children how to cook and eat healthily. When the CBeebies duo arrived, Lucy rushed to fling her arms around Big Cook Ben and Little Cook Small, before Cookery School Chef Al gave them a group cookery lesson.

Big Cook and Little Cook then laid on the slapstick with a full-blown flour fight, to the amusement of everyone present.

The wish ended with Kids’ Cookery School Chief Executive, Fiona Hamilton-Fairley, presenting the girls with an apron and cookery book each.

Lucy’s mum Denise said: “It was a lovely day; we don’t normally get to go out as a family, relax and have fun – so to see Lucy and her sister having so much fun makes us very happy.”

We were delighted to receive a follow-up to this wish – we sent out a News Release and a member of staff at magazine Primary Times saw it and came back to us. She turned out to be the mother of one of Katie’s best friends, and she had this to say:

“I know Lucy very well.The whole family had an absolutely fantastic time with Big Cook, Little Cook.

“Both Katie and Lucy really have had a rough ride with their health – I’ve lost count of the number of times they have been in hospital; often at the same time. Sometimes Lucy’s fits are so severe she suddenly stops breathing and needs emergency treatment. She needs continual monitoring and her parents need to be very watchful of her, so they don’t have much chance to rest and relax. And of course Katie’s condition also requires daily treatment, physio, monitoring and frequent hospital visits.

“Life can be really tough and stressful for them – which is why this treat from Make-A-Wish really is extra-special. It has given the whole family that much-needed and deserved breathing space where they can spend quality time together and momentarily forget about their worries – so as a friend of the family I can’t thank the charity enough. Make-A-Wish - keep up the fabulous work!”

In 2010, around 1,000 children will turn to Make-A-Wish to have their special wish granted. We need to raise £5 million this year in order to continue granting these magical wishes. Please help us to grant more magical wishes by making a donation today