Ace leads the Brisbane Lions to victory
Mega fan Ace inspired a whole team and fan community when his wish came true.
Freyja's wish to visit dugongs (and save the ocean)
What started as a wish to see the marine animals she loves soon kick-started a personal mission - and public campaign - to combat single-use plastic bags. Find out more about Freyja and her inspiring story here.
Meet Freyja
This tenacious little mermaid is Freyja, an 8 year old fighting a very rare form of cancer called Clear Cell Sarcoma.
Freyja loves animals, especially marine life, and she is passionate about the environment.
Frejya's wish was to visit Queensland and see the dugongs and dolphins - however her wish ran much deeper than simply seeing these beautiful animals swim in the wild.
“Freyja's cancer was so rare that it took a team of international specialists to identify.”
The wish
A personal mission
Freyja's wish came true in 2018, but seeing the dugongs and dolphins swimming really was only the beginning.
While visiting Queensland, Freyja walked the beaches with her family, picking up rubbish and doing what they could to reduce plastic entering the ocean.
Later, during a hospital visit, Freyja organised a meeting to talk with staff about reducing the use of plastic within the hospital.
Her passion for the environment and reducing the amount of plastic in our oceans is absolutely inspiring!
the wish effect
A long-lasting ripple effect
In late 2018, Freyja designed her very own tote bag to help raise awareness and combat the use of single-use bags - with artwork representing the dugongs and dolphins currently are at risk because of the enormous amounts of plastic in their ocean home.
Featuring hand-drawn designs by Freyja and her older sister, this unique tote bag was produced thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign on Pozible.
Freyja is still undergoing regular tests to monitor her cancer. But wish mum Lizzie said the tote bag campaign had been a positive for Freyja.
"We wanted to find a project that would keep her looking forward. We came up with this idea of focussing on the environment and something else that needed saving, not just her," Lizzie said.
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
1. Wish Capture
1. Wish Capture
Depending on availability, either our Make-A-Wish volunteers or our Wish Catcher team will arrange to meet each child (either in-person or virtually) to capture their greatest wish idea, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why. This is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control while exploring their wish idea.
2. Wish Design
2. Wish Design
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we collaborate with families and volunteers, with support of the medical teams, to create the ultimate wish experience for each child.
3. Wish Anticipation
3. Wish Anticipation
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on an anticipation journey designed to build excitement, keep them engaged until their wish comes true, and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract, and inspire kids at a time they need it most.
4. Wish Realisation
4. Wish Realisation
This is when the planning, preparation, and anticipation of the wish finally comes true. Children get to experience their greatest wish – it's everything they’ve imagined and more.
5. Wish Impact
5. Wish Impact
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 wish kids, their families, and wider communities.
- Read more
-
Read moreEmelia's wish: A wish mum's perspective
Guest blogger Kristy shares the story of her daughter Emelia's Wish Journey.