Exclusive: Pledge to make wishes come true

Imagine a vibrant young boy whose world shifted from the simplicity of playground games to a life-altering battle with myelodysplastic syndrome at just five years old, while a wish to share his passion for music became a transformative source of hope, fueling his recovery and culminating five years later in a healthy return to the stage, where he performed a powerful drumming concert.

This is not just a story but a real-life example that took place in Hong Kong of how Make-A-Wish, the world’s largest wish-granting organization, makes a difference.

“Make-A-Wish is focused on providing wishes to children with critical illnesses. We want to reach every eligible child, and that’s a big goal,” said Victor Nichols, chairman of Make-A-Wish International, in an exclusive interview with The Standard.

Since 1980, the organization has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide, with wishes ranging from dream trips and meeting a hero to experiencing a future career. 92 percent of wish children said the wish experience improved their well-being with 90 percent saying it helped them look forward and broaden their horizons, a recent study suggests.

Sometimes, the magic happens outside of the general wish process. In Shanghai, for example, the wish team transformed a hospital room into a creative haven for kids, filled with crafts, toys, and dedicated volunteers.

Nichols emphasized that the mission goes beyond simply fulfilling a request: “The idea is that hope heals and that wishes are medicine.”

“That’s why a majority of our wishes in fact come from the medical community, where they know if they can partner with us to provide a child a wish and help them to think differently about their future, they believe that can help heal them,” he explained. 

With 41 Affiliates serving nearly 50 countries and territories, the organization carefully respects local cultures, allowing each branch to operate autonomously while sharing best practices and resources globally.

The Hong Kong Affiliate has been operating for 27 years, transforming the lives of more than 2,400 children and benefiting over 36,000 attendees, including young patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.  

According to Madeline Kam, Make-A-Wish Hong Kong Executive Manager, the average Wish Journey takes about one and a half years. “We go through this Wish Journey where we capture the wish of the child, design it, plan anticipation programs and activities, and then comes the wish day,” she said.

Without receiving any government funding, corporate and individual sponsors, alongside dedicated volunteers, form the backbone of these efforts. In Hong Kong, the team runs regular programs at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, from ward visits and interactive workshops to creating life-changing Wish Journeys, all aimed at restoring hope and joy for families. To raise essential funds and awareness for these wishes and hospital services, an upcoming Christmas charity sales event will be held at IFC Mall from November 21 to January 1.

Currently, the Hong Kong Affiliate could only cover around 20 percent of children who are eligible for a wish. Kam said, “That’s why we need support from medical professionals for case referrals, corporate partners for funds, and the general public for volunteer and fundraising efforts, to help us fulfil our mission, which is to grant the wish of every eligible child."

This year, the Make-A-Wish International network aims to grant approximately 18,000 wishes worldwide. Over the next few years, it hopes to increase that number to 50,000 by expanding into new countries and reaching more children in need.

“There are still too many children that don’t get a wish just because there’s not enough capacity and resources, or because we haven’t reached all of the countries around the globe yet,” Nichols said. “We have a lot more work to do.”