Angel investor, public speaker, and business mentor Mark Lyttleton is a long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish. This article will explore the different ways Make-A-Wish patrons can use their skills and passion to make a difference in the lives of children living with critical conditions.
Fundraisers help grant wishes
Today, in every region of the United Kingdom, there are children waiting for their wishes to be granted – children living with life-altering and life-threatening conditions in need of help and support. From toddler triathlons and danceathons to sponsored bungee jumps, Make-A-Wish supports fundraisers on every step of their journey, helping them to find the right challenge for them.
Suggestions Website
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some people remain reticent about spending time in busy public spaces. Recognizing this, the Make-A-Wish website provides a wealth of suggestions for fundraising ideas that supporters can complete from their own living room, garden, or anywhere in the home.
Challenges
Suggested challenges include holding a virtual quiz with friends or colleagues and charging a small fee to play, with the winner splitting the prize with Make-A-Wish. Other ideas include gaming for Make-A-Wish, and streaming as a GameStar. Alternatively, supporters could stage a gaming sweepstakes with friends or colleagues, with half of the prize fund going to Make-A-Wish. Fundraisers could also stage a personal isolation challenge, such as a fitness challenge, shaving their head, or growing a beard. Finally, a Facebook birthday fundraiser is a simple yet effective way to raise funds, asking friends and family to donate in lieu of a birthday card or gift.
Workplace Challenge Options
In the workplace, there are many challenge options, providing an opportunity for both colleagues and customers to make a real difference in the lives of wish children. Colleagues could participate in a marathon or half marathon, stage a Bake-A-Wish event or hold an office quiz night. Other fundraising ideas include staging a coffee morning or fete, garden party, record-breaking attempt, casino, litter pick, or raffle.
Make-A-Wish offers a wealth of tips on its website to help supporters maximize their fundraising efforts and get more from their challenge. Suggestions include inviting employers to match donations, as well as ensuring that Gift Aid is claimed on every single pound pledged. The website also invites supporters to create a fundraising page, helping them to reach friends who wish to support their efforts but cannot make it to the event. In addition, it also provides tips and pointers to keep challenges safe and legal, highlighting practicalities to consider when organizing fundraising events.
Reason for Make-A-Wish
Across the United Kingdom today, around 63,000 children are eligible for a wish due to a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. From the moment of diagnosis, the simple pleasures of family life and childhood are disrupted by medical appointments, worry, disruption, financial worries, and isolation.
Make-A-Wish was created to help put these issues to one side, empowering children with critical illness to choose a wish that is unique to them – and, in doing so, creating happiness, hope, and memories for the whole family to cherish.
Conclusion
A wish is a powerful motivator for children during challenging times, helping to provide respite and distraction and providing families with valuable bonding and social engagement opportunities. Creating happiness, joy, and magical memories, Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, providing a distraction from their daily struggles and instilling wonder, joy, and hope.
Featured Image by Alem Coksa from Pixabay
