Like any energetic 7-year-old boy, Christopher Greicius loved to play. He especially enjoyed pretending to be a policeman and catching bad guys. Christopher was also battling leukemia. On April 29, 1980, six members of his Arizona community came together to make his dream of becoming a police officer a reality. Little did anyone know that Christopher’s wish would be the beginning of a movement that would transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of seriously ill children in 50 countries through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In honor of Christopher’s original wish, every April is World Wish Month. According to Make-A-Wish International, around 1.25 million children are diagnosed with a critical illness each year across the world—that equates to one child every 25 seconds. Since its inception, the nonprofit’s mission has been to grant life-changing wishes to those children. Over the last 46 years, more than 650,000 wishes have been granted worldwide. Going beyond a simple gift or act of generosity, these experiences help families find hope and give recipients the strength to cope with complex medical treatments. One of 58 branches across the country, the local Missouri and Kansas chapter has granted more than 10,750 wishes to kids between the ages of 2 and 18.
The need for wishes in Missouri and Kansas is great. “Currently, there are around 500 children waiting to have their wishes granted in our region, and in St. Louis alone, there are more than 200,” says Caroline Schmidt, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas.“Each child is facing a critical illness, and a wish can provide hope, strength and joy during a difficult time. We’re committed to reaching every eligible child.”
Children’s requests often include participating in sports or the arts, experiencing their dream careers and having backyard playgrounds built, but the impact reaches much further than that. Wish Kids want to make the world a better place by sharing their interests, and many of them use their wishes to help others in the community. Schmidt recalls that Make-A-Wish recently helped bring to life one child’s desire to become a farmer for a day. “Each wish is as unique as the children we serve, and each child is only limited by their imagination” she notes. “No matter what the wish is, we know it’s going to have a huge impact on the child, their family and everyone touched by it.”
Research shows that children who have wishes granted receive much more than a simple act of kindness. The experience also provides an emotional and physical boost that can help them fight their illness and lead to better health outcomes. Make-A-Wish reports that 87% of alumni see their wish as a turning point in their treatment, and 99% of doctors say that wishes help families by relieving stress and offering comfort and inspiration during difficult times. “We support families throughout their entire wish journey—from the referral until the wish is granted,” Schmidt says. “The goal is to create life-changing experiences for kids and families in our care.”
To make its mission possible, Make-A-Wish relies on the support of the community. The nonprofit counts on WishMakers—the people who take action to help make children’s wishes become reality through volunteering, donations, fundraising and corporate sponsorships. “Community support is everything—we need everyone to help make wishes come true,” Schmidt notes. “We wouldn’t be able to help a single child without the community rallying behind our families. Every volunteer, every dollar donated and every time our mission is shared works to bring hope, strength and joy to children when they need it most.”
St. Louisans will soon lace up their running shoes in support of Make-A-Wish. The St. Louis Walk For Wishes & 5K Race is May 2 at Energizer Park. The family-friendly event is accessible for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, and this is the event’s second year taking participants through downtown St. Louis. Attendees can look forward to post-race festivities, games, entertainment and the chance to connect with fellow supporters and Make-A-Wish families. “The driving force behind the event is our Wish families—they bring our mission to life and showcase the impact of a wish,” Schmidt says. “The route will be lined with signs featuring Wish Kids, reminding people why they are out there.”
The St. Louis event is the largest Walk for Wishes in the country. Schmidt notes that there are many ways to get involved, from starting a team to donating to helping spread the word. “Everyone can play a role, and even small actions can make a big difference,” she says. “A wish is more than a single moment. It has a lasting impact not just for the child and their family, but the entire community that helped make it possible.”
Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas has made wishes come true for more than 10,750 kids and teens. Its annual Walk for Wishes & 5K Race is May 2 at Energizer Park. Pictured on the cover: President and CEO Caroline Schmidt with Wish Kids Laila and Ben. To learn more, call 314.205.9474 or visit wish.org/mokan.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
