More than 80 wish kids have been profiled as
part of the summer series since its inception in 2006
PHOENIX, July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish and ESPN have
announced that the "My Wish" series will soon return for its
17th year on SportsCenter. The series focuses on
the inspiring journeys of children with critical illnesses whose
lives are forever changed when their wishes to meet their favorite
sports heroes and teams come true.
From Sunday, July 14, through
Thursday, July 18, a new feature will
be released each day during the 7 a.m.
ET hour of SportsCenter. Once debuted, features will
continue to air for a 24-hour period on successive
SportsCenter programs. A digital version of each "My Wish"
story will be available on the ESPN and Make-A-Wish websites. The
website will also include an entry for the Spanish-language
counterpart series, "Mi Deseo,"
featuring exclusive interview footage captured in Spanish.
For each of the wishes featured, ESPN cameras were on-hand to
document the wish journey from the initial surprise when the wish
kids learned their wish was coming true to the life-changing day
when they met their favorite athlete or team. Over the years, "My
Wish" has featured global superstars, world champions, gold
medalists, hall of famers and MVPs. This year's roster of wish
kids, star-studded athletes and teams includes:
- Levi, a 12-year-old with cancer, who learned what it takes to
be the best from his favorite players on the San Francsico
49ers;
- Laura, a 10-year-old with cancer, who got to swim side-by-side
with gold medalist Katie Ledecky;
- Bradee, an 18-year-old with kidney disease, who got to meet the
Duke basketball team ahead of its clash
with cross-town rival, University of North
Carolina;
- Yisroel, a 15-year-old with a metabolic disorder, who took the
field alongside Tua Tagovailoa and
the rest of the Miami Dolphins; and
- Gunnar, an 11-year-old with a respiratory disorder, who played
catch with his favorite player, Freddie
Freeman, before taking the mound at Dodgers Stadium to throw
out the first pitch.
"The power of the 'My Wish' series lies in the beautiful way
that ESPN honors these wish kids and their families by letting them
share their inspiring stories with viewers," said Leslie Motter, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish
America. "Once viewers hear what these families have dealt with and
overcome, they can start to see the critical role a wish plays in
restoring hope, joy and a sense of normalcy to families."
As he has since the very first "My Wish" story, Emmy-award
winning reporter Chris Connelly will
bring his storytelling prowess to the series through his insightful
interviews with the wish kids and their families.
"I've been part of My Wish since its inception, and I'm still
just amazed by the resilience, strength and optimism of the
children and families whose stories we share," Connelly said. "I
think we're all grateful for the chance to show these wishes
restoring hope and happiness to those who've had to endure so
much."
Make-A-Wish extends its thanks to Disney and ESPN for their
support of the "My Wish" series as part of The Walt Disney
Company's commitment to delivering joy and comfort to children with
critical illnesses and their families. Beyond assisting with this
year's series, Disney – which owns ESPN – has been a steadfast
friend of Make-A-Wish for 44 years and has helped the organization
grant more than 155,000 Disney-related wishes, including the very
first official wish.
For more information about Make-A-Wish and the ESPN "My Wish"
series, visit wish.org/mywish.
About Make-A-Wish®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing
wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in
Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is
the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states
throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters,
staff and more than 20,000 volunteers across the country,
Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families
when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of
wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish
experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since
1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 585,000 wishes in 50
countries worldwide; more than 375,000 wishes in the U.S. and its
territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America,
visit wish.org.
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SOURCE MAKE-A-WISH AMERICA