Make-A-Wish® began in the USA in 1980, aiming at the granting wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich their lives with hope, strength, and joy after the fulfillment of the first wish. At that time, a 7-year-old American boy, Christopher Greicius, afflicted with leukemia wished that he could become a policeman. As a result of several caring individuals, the officers of the Public Security Department of the State of Arizona helped make his wish come true on 29 April 1980. The little boy was given his very own police uniform and badge and got to ride in the police car, as well as circle around the town in a helicopter.
Those who helped make the boy’s wish come true hoped that other children with serious illnesses could also experience the same kind of happiness of having a wish come true. And so they set up Make-A-Wish®. Their convictions in helping the seriously ill feel better, gradually gained positive feedback from other countries around the world. Since 1998, Make-A-Wish Foundation International has dedicated April 29 as the “World Wish Day”.
comments