Make-A-Wish Foundation,brthe nonprofit founded in 1980 to grant wishes to children around the world whobrare living with life-threatening illnesses, made a stop in Southlake today and evenbrbrought along a special guest: Mickey Mouse.
This morning, kindergartenersbrand first graders at Walnut Grove Elementary School (WGES) gathered in thebrcafeteria for the surprise unveiling of a trip to Disney World for kindergartenbrstudent Lucas Sun. Students cheered with delight as Mickey Mouse entered thebrroom and Sun learned that his wish had been granted. He'll enjoy his SpringbrBreak at one of the most magical places on Earth.
To qualify for a wish, abrchild must be between the ages of three and 17. The nonprofit grants wishesbrthrough its 61 U.S. chapters and also operates in 45 countries around thebrworld.
“We've heard about thebrreveals and seen them on the news, but we've never experienced them here,” saysbrWGES Principal Mike Landers. “It was really cool. It's the day before SpringbrBreak, so it was the perfect time.”
Moments like these arebrwhat Christy Livingstone, Medical Outreach Coordinator with Make-A-Wish, lovesbrthe most. “It's about offering hope and joy at a time when things are difficultbrand challenging,” she says. “It's a blessing to be in a position to do that.”
Livingstone, who hasbrworked for the Foundation for a year, says children get to have one of fourbrwishes: a wish to go, a wish to be, a wish to meet or a wish to have.
“Lucas' wish was a wishbrto go to Disney World,” she says. “This is our most popular wish.”
But, each wish is asbrunique as the child. “It's always fun to see what the child's wish is,” shebrsays. Livingstone has had wish kids go to events such as Wrestlemania, and onebrhas even traveled as far away as Switzerland.
Whatever the wish is,brshe's just glad she can take part in days like today. “I enjoy all of it,” shebrsays. “It's rewarding to meet with the kids and families and see the surprisebron their faces.”
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