Make-A-Wish volunteers took to the streets of Donegal on Friday 31st March to take part in their annual fundraising event – Wish Day.
Teams collecting in Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan raised an incredible €2,700 as a result. All funds raised will go towards granting wishes to children in Ireland who are living with life-threatening illnesses.
The volunteer teams received huge support from the local community, with individual volunteers joined by local transition year students from St. Eunan’s College and Errigal College. GAA star Michael Murphy lent his support to the event and local media outlets showed their support by helping to raise awareness of the event.
Volunteers were given permission to collect by Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Dunnes Stores, Dealz, and Simpson’s, with many other local shops and businesses contributing to the event by displaying collection boxes in their stores and changing coins for volunteers after the event.
Local Make-A-Wish volunteer coordinators, Chris and Alecia Frize expressed their gratitude to the volunteers and to everyone who donated on the day. Chris said, “we are over the moon with the support and generosity that we have received in the past few weeks and we would not have been able to achieve this goal without everyone who gave so generously. We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the people of Donegal!”
Since its inception in 1992, Make-A-Wish Ireland has granted wishes to 2,000 children, bringing them hope and joy through the experience of having their greatest wish realised. To continue with its work, Make-A-Wish relies on the generosity of the general public as they receive no government funding.
Wish Day began in 2013 and the event has gone from strength to strength with thanks to the support of Make-A-Wish volunteers and the general public. This year Make-A-Wish are hoping to raise over €100,000 to help them reach their target of granting 210 wishes in 2017.
