Eight-year old Timur gets his most heartfelt wish to be among exotic animals
from around the world

HALIFAX, Aug. 20 /CNW/ - The first word Timur ever uttered was "cat".  For all of his 8 years, Timur has been fascinated by animals and dinosaurs; he loves to watch Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel.  So when he was told he could have his most heartfelt wish thanks to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, animals were certain to be an important part of it.

On August 23, Timur and his family will travel to Toronto to visit the Toronto Zoo and MarineLand in Niagara Falls where he will have the opportunity to see gorillas, lizards, dolphins, cats of many sizes and types, and so many more wonderful creatures.  While at MarineLand, Timur will also have the opportunity to touch and feed a beluga whale.

Timur was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the same week. Since then Mete, Timur's father, says he has "had 3 rounds of chemotherapy, 14 days of radiation, a great number of shots, lots of medication, has lost all his hair" and he "has to take medicine every day for the rest of his life". Each night his parents must "stretch his legs to keep his muscles from getting too short". Timur lives with physical limitations, many of which may worsen as time progresses.

When asked what this wish meant to his family, Mete explained it was so important "to get a positive experience with the whole family while Timur is still fit enough to enjoy it as much as he can.  He has been through a lot - he deserves something like this!

To request an interview with Timur's family or with a representative from Children's Wish, please contact Cheryl Matthews of the Nova Scotia Chapter of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  Since 1984, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to 16,000 children and their families.

This year, the Foundation expects to grant 1,000 new wishes and is proud to have never refused a wish to an eligible child, and with the help of volunteers and generous donors, is able to grant nearly three wishes every day.  Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family. The Foundation is a grassroots charity with chapters in every province and territory. 

For further information:

Cheryl Matthews- Chapter Director - Nova Scotia
Ph: [phone]
Email:  [email protected]