Make-A-Wish UK launches ‘every Christmas begins with a wish’ appeal
Every Christmas begins with a wish. A new bike. A games console. Something circled on a Christmas list or excitedly whispered before bedtime.
For most children, wishing is part of the magic of Christmas. It's a chance to dream big and imagine what's to come. But when you're living with critical illness, Christmas can look very different.
Every hour, a child in the UK is diagnosed with a critical illness that could make them eligible for a wish. Around 134,000 children across the country could currently be entitled to one.
Critical illness can affect every part of childhood. Hospital appointments and treatment can interrupt school, hobbies, friendships and family life, replacing familiar routines and special moments. Time together becomes even more precious, and the simple joys of childhood can suddenly feel out of reach. It can leave children feeling disconnected from the things that make them who they are.
As families across the UK prepare for Christmas, Make-A-Wish UK is asking the public to help grant more life-changing wishes that give children the chance to feel like themselves again.
For 12-year-old William from Lancashire, that meant a Christmas adventure with his family and meeting his favourite celebrity - Santa.
When William joined a call with Make-A-Wish to talk about his wish wearing Christmas pyjamas, he already had a clear idea of what he wanted.
William lives with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare, life-threatening genetic condition that causes his body to produce too much insulin. He needs daily blood glucose monitoring and round-the-clock care.
But there is so much more to William than his condition. “He is a fun-loving character with a great sense of humour,” said his mum, Amanda.
His wish took the family to a woodland lodge at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in Cumbria where they could spend time together enjoying the Christmas experiences he loves.
William loves swimming but rarely gets the opportunity because of the water temperature. During his wish, the subtropical swimming pool was warm enough that he could spend up to two hours a day doing something he enjoys.
He was particularly delighted by the model reindeer in Winter Wonderland, which sang when he pressed their noses. And no Christmas trip would have been complete without meeting Santa himself.
"It was a fantastic experience, beyond what we expected, a magical experience from start to finish! The accommodation was amazing and met all of our son’s needs – he had the best time."
Research into the impact of wishes has found a 75% rise in families feeling connected to others after their wish was granted, marking a meaningful improvement in their overall wellbeing and highlights how wishes can help children experience joy, strengthen family relationships and focus on possibilities beyond their illness.
Make-A-Wish UK is currently granting a record number of wishes, at around 1,200 a year. But around 8,000 children are newly diagnosed with a critical illness each year, meaning demand continues to significantly outpace the number of wishes the charity can grant.
Jason Suckley, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish UK, said:
"Illness can take away many of the things that make childhood what it should be: choice, independence, time with friends, family experiences and the freedom to simply be a child.
"During our 40 years of listening to children and their families, we’ve learnt that a child’s wish can reveal what matters most to them and what they need to feel more like themselves again.
"A wish can't change a diagnosis, but it can change what those difficult days feel like."
"This Christmas, we’re asking people to donate to help us grant more wishes so more critically ill children can create lasting memories, whether they have decades ahead of them or precious little time."
Make-A-Wish UK works with children living with critical illness between the ages of 3 and 17 to grant a wish that is personal to them; whether that's enjoying a family day out, receiving a gaming console or bedroom makeover, meeting their idol, going on a dream holiday, or becoming a superhero for the day.
This Christmas, while millions of children are making wishes for presents under the tree, thousands of children living with critical illness are still waiting for a wish of their own. Make more life-changing wishes possible. Donate today at www.make-a-wish.org.uk/christmas-wish.
