Big Summer Festival At Gulf Harbour

Big Summer Festival At Gulf Harbour

Will Help Sick Kiwi Kids Realise Dreams

January 29, 2013

A month-long summer festival at Gulf Harbour marina, just north of Auckland, is one of the most ambitious fundraising programmes ever undertaken by Make-A-Wish® New Zealand to help make wishes come true for eligible New Zealand children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish is staging a four week festival from February 28 to March 24 at Fairway Bay and Hobbs Wharf on the eastern side of the marina, where supporters will provide a range of activities for everyone. Festival goers will be able to eat and drink at cafés, play in the water, shop at markets, picnic, enjoy entertainment, be involved in a range of competitions and activities, and enjoy movies under the balmy evening starry skies.

Carolyn MacDonell, CEO of Make-A-Wish, says the festival has the potential to raise more money, which will fulfil more wishes, than many other activities the organisation has previously undertaken.

‘We are just thrilled with the strong support we are getting from organisations in Auckland and from around the Whangaparaoa area. We’re so excited to be able to use Fairway Bay for these activities. Fairway Bay is a beautiful setting right next to the water which makes it a brilliant place to run these events that will be fun for everyone.”

The funds from this fantastic series of events will be used to help grant wishes to sick kiwi kids all over New Zealand. Wishes are essential for these sick children. The impact of a wish is not limited to the immediate emotional effects on wish children, wishes broadly impact a wide community including the thousands of people involved with or exposed to the Make-A-Wish mission. The organisation’s mission to “enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy” is accomplished through the granting of wishes. A wish generates hope and a positive outlook for all. A wish is a source of emotional and physical strength for the wish child and enables them to withstand the challenges of a life-threatening illness. A wish also fosters lasting joy and happiness for the child, wish parents, volunteers, supporters and medical/healthcare professionals.

There are a number of local (North Shore) children and young people that have recently had wishes granted, or about to be granted, including:

• Keegan,16, , Cerebal Palsy, Epilepsy and Autism, I wish to be a rock star
• Kaden, 7, heart disease, I wish is to go to the Melbourne Grand Prix
• Jessica, 12, , cancer, I wish for an iPad and home gaming console equipment
• Toby, 11, , bronchiectasis, I wish to have a puppy

To see these children and young people and hear more about how much their wishes mean to them see our video:

Since formed in New Zealand in 1986, Make-A-Wish has raised funds and granted wishes to 1300 sick children While Make-A-Wish® New Zealand is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish® International, fundraising in New Zealand is for the wishes of children and young people with life-threatening medical conditions in New Zealand.

The symbol for the Make-A-Wish® Field of Dreams summer festival at Fairway Bay and Hobbs Wharf will be the sunflower – vacant land there has been planted with tens of thousands of the yellow flowers.

www.makeawish.org.nz

www.fairwaybay.co.nz

www.hobbswharf.com

About Make-A-Wish®

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Make-A-Wish makes a difference that really matters for children, young people, families and communities. Wish children realise their dreams, feel stronger, experience happiness, and take control of their life. Wishes alleviate stress and bring families and friends together. Wishes empower communities, supporters and donors to create transformative experiences today.

Make-A-Wish makes the impossible possible.

Make-A-Wish key facts

• The Make-A-Wish mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy
• The Make-A-Wish vision is to make every eligible child’s wish come true
• Many wish children go on to recover, however during times of treatment wish children and their families are going through very tough times
• Make-A-Wish® New Zealand is an Affiliate of Make-A-Wish® International
• Make-A-Wish New Zealand has been granting wishes to children and young people (aged 3-17) since 1986
• Make-A-Wish is the only children’s charity in New Zealand that focuses solely on wish granting
• Typically children’s wishes fall into four categories: I wish to Be, I wish to Meet, I wish to Have, or I wish to Go
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• Make-A-Wish is funded through the generosity of donations, in-kind, grants, sponsors and events
• It is preferable to refer to us as ‘Make-A-Wish’
• In 2012 183 wishes were granted by Make-A-Wish® New Zealand
• In 2013 it is anticipated that over 200 wishes will be granted
• Make-A-Wish is a volunteer lead organisation with over 114 volunteers around New Zealand who grant our wishes, and an office team of 8.5 FTE’s
• If a child is between aged three and 17 years, and is medically eligible, they will receive a wish from Make-A-Wish.

ENDS

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