489 life-changing wishes fulfilled
Make-A-Wish Malaysia hopes next year will be an even bigger success
KUALA LUMPUR: Their mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
And as 2018 draws to a close, Make-A-Wish Malaysia has delivered 489 wishes since it was set up eight years ago.
“This has been an incredible year in terms of fundraising and granting wishes,” said Make-A-Wish’s royal patron Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
At the charity organisation’s 2018 “Wish Ball” fundraiser on Friday, Tengku Zatashah called on the guests and supporters to help make 2019 an even bigger success.
She cited the example of ultra-marathoner Datin Sue Ding, who completed the 251km Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert, to help raise funds for Make-A-Wish Malaysia.
Tengku Zatashah also thanked Make-AWish’s board of directors and guests for helping make 2018 a success.
To raise funds for 2019’s wishes, the organisation set up a “Wish Tree”, with sponsored prizes for a ticket price of RM100 each.
Before the event proper on Friday, guests placed their bids for items put up at a silent auction that included branded handbags and shoes, designer gowns, art pieces and even tualang honey.
Items that caught a lot of attention included a signed Hublot jersey by former Argentina football star Diego Maradona. That sold for RM6,000.
Bidding was also fast and furious for a 10-person, two-night stay at a luxury resort in Koh Samui, which eventually went for RM17,000.
Guests could also contribute and sponsor individual wishes through an “Adopt A Wish” programme which featured boxes with details of each child’s wish, their illness and an explanation on what the organisation would do to fulfil it.
Seven-year-old Insyirah Mat Amin, who recently had her wish for a Braille machine and white cane fulfilled, came on stage to thank Make-A-Wish Malaysia.
She presented Tengku Zatashah with her own artwork of a simple kampung house.
Insyirah, who is clinically blind due to a brain tumour that compressed her optical nerves and eventually destroyed her vision, underwent 87 chemotherapy sessions.
“With the Braille machine, I can study better as well,” said Insyirah, who used to borrow one from her school.
She also spoke of having fun visiting the Petrosains centre at KLCC.
The organisation’s chief executive officer Irene Tan said they usually raise over RM200,000 from the auctions, Wish Tree and Adopt A Wish.
“So far, we’ve fulfilled just under 80 wishes. Maybe we can hit 90 by the end of 2018,” Tan said
At the event, guests were treated to a classical music performed by the Eugene Pook Orchestra Academy, as well as ballet performances by the KL Dance Works Ballet Academy.