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Jacob celebrates end of cancer treatment with a super special shopping spree
After undergoing 18 months of chemotherapy for an optic pathway glioma, a type of brain tumour. nine-year-old Jacob Vickers from Stoke-on-Trent finally got what he’d been dreaming of – a VIP shopping spree in London with his family, thanks to charity Make-A-Wish UK and funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Jacob loves shopping, something he couldn’t do whilst undergoing gruelling treatment which left him unable to walk due to intense aches and pains across his body; he was often too poorly to eat and had to be fed through a peg tube. Once he was well enough, Jacob’s wish to indulge in a full-on shopping experience came true when along with his Mum, Dad and brother, he headed off on a well-deserved shopping city break to the capital. When Jacob learned his wish would he mean he could take a train to London, ride around in a limo, shop at all his favourite shops, see ‘The Kings Palace’ and end the day at a luxurious hotel, he was ecstatic! Jacobs’ wish marked an end to his debilitating treatment and a chance for his family to celebrate in style after a long and tough journey.
Jacob’s mum says “Jacob had the best time on his wish! He loved being in the limo and felt like a proper celebrity, people were taking pictures of us... it was just amazing! We are so thankful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for giving us precious, happy family memories that will last us all a lifetime”.
Thanks to the generous support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, Make-A-Wish UK has been awarded £900,000 over three years, which will help to grant thousands of wishes for critically ill children across the UK, just like Jacob’s.
“We are now in the second year of our funding and we’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Thanks to the Postcode Lottery players we continue to be able to provide awe-inspiring wishes for children just like Jacob across the UK, at a time when they need it most. Children deserve to wish for more than a life defined by their illness. “The demand for wishes is outpacing our best efforts to keep up so it’s taking us longer to grant wishes. But the reality is that many families simply can’t wait this long. Jacobs’s story highlights just how much wishes provide an escape for a child from the reality of living with a critical illness.”
"It’s incredible to see the difference players’ support makes to children like Jacob and their families. His wish marks a joyful milestone after such a difficult journey, and I’m delighted that funding raised by our players is helping Make-A-Wish UK create magical moments like this. Every wish granted is a reminder of the power of hope and happiness during the toughest times.”"
For more information about People's Postcode Lottery's charitable initiatives, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/goodcauses.
For more information about Make-A-Wish UK visit https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/
NOTES TO EDITORS
Images and interviews are available upon request.
For more information, please contact Gemma Goddon PR Manager (maternity cover) at [email protected]
We do not use the phrase ‘terminally ill’ and ask that you follow suit because some poorly children and young people are not made aware of the exact nature of their diagnosis, and we respect their family’s approach to their situation. Some also recover.
Please refer to us as Make-A-Wish® UK in the first instance to distinguish us from affiliates in other countries and hyperlink to our website when you mention the charity online: www.make-a-wish.org.uk
About Make-A-Wish UK
Right now, over 134,000 children in the UK are eligible for a wish because they are dealing with the gruelling daily reality of life with a critical illness. When it comes to their dreams, they deserve to wish for more than a life defined by their illness. Critical illness brings a child’s joy to an abrupt end but Make-A-Wish UK is part of a global movement that grants life-changing wishes that have the power to turn tears into cheers, rescuing the magic of childhood even in their toughest times and providing a lifeline for families to spend precious time together.
Make-A-Wish UK is a registered charity that was established in the UK in 1986 to create life-changing wishes that revive the childhood that critical illness often takes away. The charity receives no Government funding - registered charity numbers: 295672 in England and Wales, SC037479 in Scotland.
To see more wish stories, visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk or follow us on social media at:
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