Latest Wishes - We grant our 6,000th Wish!

12 year old Luke from West Molesey in Surrey made a dramatic appearance on the red carpet at the Odeon Cinema in Richmond for the premiere of his debut action movie, 'The Elementor'...

Luke, who lives with the inherited muscle-wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, has always wanted to be an actor, absorbing himself in comics and films. So Make-A-Wish arranged for him to design and play his own hero in his very own film, shot by Charlotte Knight Productions at the Live Vision studios in Deptford, London.

'The Elementor' is a short film that sees the UK on the brink of an energy crisis with riots breaking out as the national grid is due for switch-off. Set against this apocalyptic backdrop, ‘Luke’, an ordinary boy trying to lead a normal life amidst the chaos, on his way to school stumbles across a meteor fragment that bequeaths him extraordinary powers in the battle to save the nation.

Luke's wish is a milestone for us – the 6,000th wish Make-A-Wish has granted since its inception in 1986. From small beginnings, granting four wishes in our first year from a small office above a shop, Make-A-Wish hopes to grant 700 wishes this year.

Make-A-Wish CEO Neil Jones says: “Make-A-Wish is very proud to have granted its 6,000th wish and honoured to be helping Luke fulfil his dreams to be an actor.”

“The premiere of Luke’s film falls in National Family Week, an apt reminder of the joy and relief a wish can bring to the whole family of a child or young person with a life-threatening illness. Amidst hospital visits and treatment, seeing a child laughing and having fun in a magical world can provide lasting and happy memories.”

Luke’s Mum Linda said after a day of filming: “It was lovely to be able to see Luke doing what he has always wanted. He just loves comics, films and superheroes – it’s a form of escapism for him from his reality – and so to actually be one has just been brilliant.”

Film Producer Charlotte Knight says: “We were thrilled to have this opportunity to help make Luke's wish a reality. He is wonderful young man and made a great superhero, a complete natural! Make-A-Wish is truly a fantastic charity and we all feel so privileged and humbled to be part of this wish.”

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