The 2,041st Wish in Alberta to be granted in surprise ceremony at Children's Wish Gala
CALGARY, May 18, 2016 /CNW/ - In 1986, the very first wish ever granted in Alberta was for a stereo system. Over 2,000 wishes later, The Children's Wish Foundation celebrates its 30 year anniversary in Alberta with the Children's Wish Gala presented by Air Transat. The event is hosted by Dave Kelly, former host of CityTV Breakfast Television, with a pair of wish children co-hosts, Mable 'Spider-Mable' and Aboudi.
When: Wednesday, May 25, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Telus Convention Centre, North Hall - 120 9th Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2G 0P3
A number of wish children are to be honored at the event. In front of a packed room of donors, The Children's Wish Foundation, Alberta & N.W.T. Chapter is fulfilling the wish of Gracie, a child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The surprise ceremony will make her the 2,041st wish ever granted in the province. What's more: the following day is her third birthday!
In 2015 at the Children's Wish Gala, Children's Wish granted the wish of Elijah, a boy suffering from cystic fibrosis, to go to Disneyworld and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Elijah was the 1,918th wish child in Alberta and is returning this year as a special guest.
Inside the Gala the highlights include the Walk of Wishes, a pathway setup featuring 10 examples of a child's wish, from a Room Redecoration booth to a Princess booth. The event features over 90 silent auction items which can be shopped for within the event space and on tablets set up at every table through the Givergy donation system. Additionally, the sale of one of the auction items will go towards planting trees to replace those destroyed by the recent fire in Fort McMurray.
In continuing the theme of wishes from the past, the most sought-after auction item is donated by a former wish child and his network of business associates, Travis Arychuk of Private Sky Aviation. Travis was granted a mountain bike in 1997 and now, nearly 20 years later, he is paying it forward. The item is a chartered flight for four persons and a trip for three days to Plummer's Great Slave Lake Lodge with additional two nights' accommodations in Old Town Yellowknife overlooking the water.
Tickets for the Gala are still available. To purchase yours or book your table, visit www.childrenswishgala.ca or contact:
Kyla Martin, Director
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, Alberta & NWT Chapter
T: 403.265.3254 | [email protected]
About The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is the largest all-Canadian wish granting charity dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. For more than 30 years, Children's Wish has worked tirelessly to grant heartfelt wishes to nearly 25,000 children and their families.
This year, the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada expects to grant over 1,000 new wishes across the country with the help of volunteers and generous donors; that is approximately three wishes each and every day, all year long. The Alberta & NWT Chapter has granted more than 2,000 wishes to date and will grant more than 130 wishes this year alone! Each wish is a child's most heartfelt wish, and is carefully structured to meet the particular needs of the child and their family.
Already this year, we are experiencing unprecedented increases of wish referrals through our strong medical community relationships for our wishes granted to children with life-threatening illnesses. Now more than ever, we are encouraging Canadians to donate and support The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada to help us continue to grant the next most heartfelt wish. Children's Wish is a national charity with chapters in every province and territory. Visit www.childrenswish.ca for more information and to donate.
Twitter: @ChildrensWishAB
Instagram: @childrenswishab
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChildrensWishAB/
SOURCE The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
Image with caption: "Children’s Wish Gala (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160518_C7646_PHOTO_EN_693669.jpg
Image with caption: "Children’s Wish Gala presented by Air Transat (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160518_C7646_PHOTO_EN_693671.jpg
Rhys Dowbiggin, Communications Specialist, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, AB/NWT Chapter, T: 587.889.1613, M: 403.265.3252, E: [email protected]
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