Make A Wish Australia, Children's Charity - Audrey on her wish smiling to camera and wearing her warm jacket

Audrey's tale of ice and fire!

In 2018, Audrey's story was featured during our tax-time campaign. One financial year on, see the impact of her wish and how your generous donation can make all the difference.

Audrey, 5, retinoblastoma - "I wish to blast off in a rocket to the snow."

Meet Audrey

Flashback - Audrey's story

You may recall Audrey, now 6, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (a rare form of eye cancer) at just 2 years old.

Shortly after diagnosis, Audrey endured life-changing surgery to remove one of her eyes, followed by seven rounds of chemotherapy to save the other.

Watch Audrey's video to learn more about her diagnosis and the origins of her 'ice and fire' wish!

The wish

Audrey's wish

Despite her illness, Audrey loves drawing - her drawings often feature rockets flying over mountains of snow.

However living in Queensland, Audrey hadn't had the chance to experience real snow herself - or use the countless beanies her grandparents sent over from Canada!

For a girl with such a big imagination, Audrey's wish should've come as no surprise - she wished to blast off in her own rocket to the snow!

She's had the battle of her life. She's been through more than most people will ever have to go through.
Claudine, Audrey's mum

Her wish

A snowy adventure

Audrey's wish took her and and her family to Mount Hotham, where they were able to spend some quality family time catching up things they'd missed out on.

Audrey and her sister got to see snow for the first time, diving straight in to make snow angels.

She even got try skiing and by the end of the week, she was skiing down the slopes like a pro!

Make A Wish Australia Children's Charity - Audrey and her sister on her wish finding the rocket in the snow

Wish Effect

One year on

One year on, we asked Audrey's mum Claudine to reflect on her experience - and what it really means to bring life-changing wishes to life.

"Audrey's now six, and health wise she's doing really good, despite ongoing eye operations and treatments.

"Every month that goes by, Audrey gets brighter and brighter. She’s in a good spot, getting the glow back in her cheeks. Looking healthy and happy.

"Audrey's wish was very special - as bringing the family together and having the time [at the snow] wasn’t something we could have done otherwise.

"There was so much laughter throughout the wish, and we’ve come away with that and feeling closer as a family.

"Because Audrey has limited sight and autism, for her to be able to ski was a huge accomplishment. She’s so proud of herself and what she was able to achieve - she goes around telling everyone that she can ski, and we have this dream of 'the snow sisters' winning gold at the Olympics!

"It’s really ignited a love of skiing in her - and knowing that you can fall over and get back up again (she did that hundreds of times!) - has become a really good metaphor. It's a bit like how she lives her life, she gets knocked down and she gets back up again. She’ll try anything!"

As a family, it was the best thing we’ve ever done together. It was absolutely magical.
Claudine Audrey's mum

Make a tax time donation

Audrey's wish came true last year thanks to tax time donations. Donate this year and make the impossible possible for hundreds more kids, just like Audrey.

Donate

Wish Effect

Audrey's rocket!

"Audrey's always been a fan of all things space and rockets, and her love of rockets has just developed since the wish.

"Her rocket takes pride of place in her bedroom. When someone comes over, that’s the first thing Audrey tells them, about her rocket."

The Wish Journey

Bringing the Wish to Life

Make-A-Wish volunteers visit each child to capture their greatest wish, getting to the heart of what kids truly want and why. This profound insight is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control and helping to shape their entire Wish Journey.

Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we partner with families, volunteers and medical teams to design the ultimate wish experience - and start rallying our partners and supporters to help make it happen.

In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on a journey designed to build excitement and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract and inspire sick kids at a time they need it most.

When the moment finally arrives, children get to experience their greatest wish come true - it's everything they've imagined and more. Pinch yourself, and don't forget to take a breath and enjoy every precious moment!

Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of sick kids, their families and wider communities.