Behind The Wish: Alyssa
Alyssa Tasker has been recognised for her thoughtfulness and care for wish kids and families, by receiving a Make-A-Wish Inspire Award.
Wishes 'get you excited about life'
For volunteer Alyssa Tasker, there’s no such thing as being too busy for a wish.
Alyssa remembers one year putting her hand up to do a wish on the second day of the year.
“And they (Make-A-Wish head office) were like ‘We know it’s a really hard time of year, you might be busy’ and I’m like ‘It’s no problem I’ll be there’,” she said.
“Why not go and spend a day doing exactly what a kid has wished for?
“If you can take a moment to witness someone else’s joy, what’s more fun than that?
“A wish is invigorating. It gets you excited about life again and lost in the moment.”
Limo experience gives Alyssa drive
Alyssa joined Make-A-Wish in 2024 after first being exposed to wishes through her former employer: chauffeur company Hughes Limousines.
She worked in the events and VIP areas for the company and began to develop a good relationship with Make-A-Wish head office.
When the limo company was approached for a wish, Alyssa would try and find out as much detail as possible about the wish.
“I remember a wish kid was going to the LEGO TV show, so I bought a few LEGO sets and made the letters in LEGO to say ‘Welcome’ followed by the child’s name,” she said.
Alyssa had the urge to volunteer for some time and is glad she finally joined Make-A-Wish.
“Make-A-Wish has kind of fitted into my life quite well and I can do it in my own time. It’s been so rewarding,” she said.
Award for thoughtful Alyssa
In 2025 Alyssa was awarded the Make-A-Wish Inspire Award for Child Focus.
A fellow volunteer nominated Alyssa because she demonstrated “thoughtfulness, warmth and enthusiasm”.
“Her sense of humour, as well as her passion and care for the kids, is very special,” the nominator wrote.
“However, it is not only the kids she is great with: her thoughtful nature with the parents is amazing, they all love her.”
Alyssa said the award was confirmation that her fun approach to dealing with wish kids was working.
“It was lovely to have that acknowledgement,” she said.
“I guess it means I’m on the right path and I am making a difference in these kids’ lives.”
Making people feel seen
Growing up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, Alyssa said her traits of thoughtfulness and empathy were ones learned from her mother.
“Mum’s always been the one that gives people little gifts that mean something rather than huge expensive gifts,” Alyssa said.
“And I’ve picked that up along the way because it’s nice to acknowledge people and make them feel seen.”
Alyssa said she does her best to support wish parents.
“I try and acknowledge when I speak to them that ‘your kid is going through it but you’re going through it too’,” Alyssa said.
“Like it is their baby going through it, so I just give them the space and the opportunity to say ‘It is hard, it is hard’.
“The general consensus I get from the parents is that it’s really hard to talk to their family members about the child’s illness because they are all essentially grieving at the same time together.
“So, they find it hard to share how they’re feeling when they’re trying to hold it together for each other.”
I try and acknowledge when I speak to them that ‘your kid is going through it but you’re going through it too’.
Alyssa, volunteer
Alyssa's life-changing volunteer experience
Alyssa said joining Make-A-Wish had been life-changing for her.
“Hearing the stories about the wishes started to make me rethink how I felt around kids,” Alyssa said.
“I’m 40 but I’m young and in some ways, I am still a kid. And through Make-A-Wish I have started to realise I have a lot of the same energy as these kids.”
Alyssa said Make-A-Wish had also been a reality check, making her realise that it’s easy to complain about “the stupidest things”.
She said Make-A-Wish had made her self-reflect and be more grateful for what she has.
“It feels so special to be able to work with these wish families so closely at a time that’s so awful for them,” Alyssa said.
“It's been really lovely to be able to build those relationships and see inside other people's lives.
“I guess I love learning about other people and so it's been a really huge shift. And it's changed everything for me. It's overwhelming just thinking about it right now.”
Picture: Alyssa with facepaint on to meet a wish child and their parents on Zoom.
It feels so special to be able to work with these wish families so closely at a time that’s so awful for them.
Alyssa, volunteer
