Liz Turner (Make-A-Wish Foundation) with Tom Mander (AWI)Three Black Country children and their families are set to have their wishes granted thanks to the support of a local manufacturer.
Alloy Wire International (AWI) has donated £5,000 to the
Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of its ‘Wired for Good’ campaign and this will immediately go towards rescuing the magic of childhood for children with a critical illness.
The money will help young people meet their heroes, enjoy a dream day out or create treasured holiday memories with their family. Bosses at the charity want more people and local businesses to follow AWI’s example, with 76 children in Birmingham and Black Country alone currently waiting for their wish to come true - many of them receiving treatment at local hospitals and hospices.
Tom Mander, managing director of AWI, said: “We are passionate about helping local good causes and when we were contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, there was unanimous approval from our team that we would make it the latest ‘Wired for Good’ recipient. A lot of us have children and we can’t imagine what life must be like for families and their young ones who are going through the challenges and pain of a critical illness.
“If we can take them away from this reality and transport them into a world where they can regain their childhood, then what a fantastic thing to do. We are really pleased that our donation will be spent immediately to make three wishes happen!”
Life-changing wishesMake-A-Wish Foundation UK exists to grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses when they need it most. Right now, over 134,000 young people in the UK are facing the daily reality of life with a critical illness, and every hour another child is diagnosed.
While it grants around 1,000 wishes a year, over 8,000 are newly eligible every year, meaning thousands of children are still waiting. These wishes are as unique as they are: some dream of having a guitar or a laptop, while others wish to go on a UK holiday to spend precious time with their families. Heartbreakingly, some simply don’t have time to wait.
Liz Turner, head of community and volunteering at Make-A-Wish Foundation, said: “I am based here in the Black Country, and I see first-hand the difference a wish can make to families in our community.
“Right now, 76 children across the region are waiting for their wish - children in our local hospitals and hospices who just want the chance to dream beyond their illness.
“Thanks to AWI’s amazing £5,000 donation, we will be able to make three of those wishes come true - and change those families’ lives forever. But there are so many more children still waiting. That’s why we need more local people to get involved. Even giving 30 minutes a week as a volunteer, or donating, can help bring more wishes to life.”
You can donate now to the children waiting in Birmingham and the Black Country at
here. If you would like to volunteer, email .