Aroha's Spooktacular Hallowish
You may remember Aroha from her Million Pumpkin wish, well her spooktacular fundraiser was a frightful delight
Spook your street this Hallowish
This October, take part in Hallowish and add a sprinkle of joy to your tricks and treats and help grant wishes for sick kids.
Deciding on her wish
They say good things take time, and that couldn’t be more true for Aroha.
The kind-hearted and generous 13-year-old spent a long time deciding on her one wish - and true to her thoughtful spirit, she realised her wish was to help other children like her have their wishes granted.
Aroha also LOVES Halloween - and everything about it. So, she naturally wished 'for a Halloween Carnival fundraiser for Make-A-Wish'.
"When Sally gave me back my boo pumpkin with the total of how much my fundraiser had raised, I was in shock - I couldn't sleep!" said Aroha.
Seeing all the costumes and effort people had gone to was a highlight, everyone was in the spirit - it was amazing having all my family, friends, Make-A-Wish, VIPs, and community together to have fun and scares.
Aroha, wish recipient
Both scaring and caring
When asked what she wants to be when she’s older, Aroha has a few options. She wants to be a writer, a coroner, a nurse, doctor, Zookeeper or of course – someone in the morgue. So, it’s no surprise that her favourite book genre is crime thriller, and that her favourite activity (apart from the Saxophone) is scaring her siblings!
Aroha’s mum, Emma says their whole family LOVES to scare each other. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a pumpkin head to be at the dinner table – or for someone to be playing a practical joke on another.
Aroha’s name also means love in Māori, which is no surprise considering she has the hugest heart and has spent her 13 years always thinking of others.
Aroha used to be the diabetic fasting child going to theatre, that would have made the whole ward morning tea and would walk around with a box of cupcakes for everyone... On the ward, she would always manage to find children who were struggling or needing a friend!
Emma, Aroha's mum
The fundraiser comes to life
From clowns and witches to guys and ghouls, the local Perth community truly brought Aroha's evening to life.
The incredible fundraiser with more than 1,700 guests took over Adventure World on Saturday night. With everyone dressed in their best spooky attire, there was music, food, jump scares and plenty of carnival rides for everyone to enjoy.
From the moment Aroha stepped foot in her specially wrapped Hyundai car to take her to her wish, through to the incredible team at Adventure World and all the supporters in between - Aroha's fundraiser was made even more extraordinary through the support of our Wish Force.
"I'm a nurse midwife and you go through your career, and you're exposed to so much as a health professional, but watching your child be so brave and courageous and it's not something that you can install in a child. It's within them. It's very special”
Emma, Aroha's Mum
