Make-a-Wish New Zealand Extending Magic to the Pacific

MEDIA RELEASE 2 MAY 2011
MAKE-A-WISH NEW ZEALAND EXTENDING MAGIC TO THE PACIFIC
On Tuesday 10 May 2011, a team from Make-A-Wish New Zealand will be making a very special delivery. 17 children and young people in Fiji will be receiving their one true wish, to help bring a day of hope and joy into their lives.

This will be the biggest wish delivery to kids with life-threatening illnesses to take place in the islands so far, with five wishes granted in Samoa last month, and five in Tonga last year, which was the first delivery of Pacific wishes ever.

Make-A-Wish New Zealand grants the wishes of very sick children, and is extending its support to include kids in the Pacific Islands. The Fijian wish delivery will have some surprise guests to help create a magical day for all. Some of the wish requests include “a ride in a car”, “a green and blue bike” and even, “Dora the Explorer everything” and “lots of balloons!”

The 17 Fijian children’s wishes being granted are:
Mesake Nabanivatu, 12, Lymphoma, wished for a Playstation and flat screen TV.
Abigail Vunigasan, 5, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a Barbie princess and lots of balloons.
Adi Akisi Tunaosara, 17 months, Brain Tumour, will be getting a wish box with fairy dress; building bricks and toys; and colouring books and crayons.
Cama Koto Dooboo, 11, Wilms Tumour, wished for a laptop with DVDs.
Mereti Jese, 16, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a laptop and ipod.
Jeremy Udai Sinuh, 7, Wilms Tumour, wished for a green and blue bike
Kerneel Krishant Chandra, 11, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a Playstation 3 and a transformer toy.
Mahima Pillay, 13, Rhabdomyoma, wished for a laptop.
Mereoni Taoa Naisoro, 8 months, Cancer and Cleft Palate (Syndrome), will be getting a wish box of tactile toys, with musical theme.
Mohd Zuber Shah, 4, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a ride in a car.
Nishita Rishika Chand, 2, Tumour, will be getting a wish box with a focus on drawing and writing paper.
Ponipate Navae Moore, 12, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a laptop and ipod.
Prashika Samy, 8 months, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, will be getting a wish box filled with clothes and dolls (and a baby walker).
Sajneel Sanjeer Sharma, 14, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for a laptop and games.
Simran Shika Naidu, 4, Cancer, wished for Dora the Explorer everything!
Eliza Lanyon, 4, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, wished for girly dresses and DVDs.
Aadi Akisi, 17 months, Brain Tumour, will be getting a wish box with a fairy dress, building blocks and colouring books.

In 2009, the international head office for Make-A-Wish set up ‘WishFund’, a global fund that could enable affliates around the world to create wishes.

Make-A-Wish New Zealand was one of the first affliates to receive assistance from the ‘WishFund’ to develop support throughout the Pacific. Last year, a team of dedicated volunteers visited Samoa, Fiji, American Samoa and Tonga to meet with some of their local support groups to develop teams that will eventually run wishes on the islands.

"Through the granting of a wish, each child has the chance to escape their difficult and often painful reality, even if it's only for a short time," says Make-A-Wish NZ Chair, Gilli Sinclair. "We feel privileged to be able to bring the magic and joy experienced by Kiwi kids for so many years, to children in the islands."

“This is a huge step for them and us, we are so excited by this new venture and are very grateful to all the encouragement we have received from other local Pacific groups, our sponsors here in New Zealand, and our team of tireless volunteers who are helping to make it all happen,” she says.

Make-A-Wish New Zealand is celebrating it’s 25 year anniversary this year, and the establishment of Pacific wishes are part of the commemoration of a growing number of wishes being granted to deserving kids both here, and in the islands.

ENDS

About Make-A-Wish New Zealand:
Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are living with life threatening medical conditions. Wishes bring magic, joy and hope to these children and their families, as well as unforgettable experiences. Make-A-Wish can’t promise a longer life or recovery but offers comfort and encouragement that hope, goals and experiences are still available. Make-A-Wish New Zealand have been granting wishes since 1986, and grant over 160 wishes every year.