SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIOFall/Winter Issue 2019 WISHLIFE IS PRODUCED TWICE A YEAR FOR THE FRIENDS OF MAKE-A-WISH®

WishLifeSOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

Fall/Winter Issue 2019 WISHLIFE IS PRODUCED TWICE A YEAR FOR THE FRIENDS OF MAKE-A-WISH®

Meet MichaelLadies and gentlemen start your engines! What does the biggest sports fan wish for? An experience of a lifetime of course. Michael loves all sports, but when it came time to make his special wish he knew just what he wanted: to be part of a NASCAR PitCrew at Talladega Raceway - the biggest and baddest track. Michael literally shrieked with joy when he found out his wish was coming true!

The surprises didn’t end there. Michael spent the first day of his wish trip driving golf balls at Top Golf where he was treated like royalty. Then it was off to the track where he was personally escorted everywhere that any race fan would wish to go. His escort, Billy, went above and beyond for Michael ensuring that he got to meet tonnes of drivers including his favorite Jeff Gordon, that he got to attend the official riders meeting and that he was with the official pit crew of car #42 for the national anthem (a highlight for sure). Michael was most shocked when he saw that his name had been painted on the #42 car of Kyle Larson for the race. What an incredible honour!

Michael’s family shared that the experience was unbelievable. Everyone they bumped in to (which was everyone as it turns out that Billy really is the best host ever) went out of their way to make Michael’s days at the track extra special.

By day three, it was time for the official race. And what a race it was. Michael’s seats were fantastic and he was cheering like crazy not only for the car with his name on it but for another car #10 as well. He had really taken a liking to the driver or #10, Aric Almirola, and his wife who he got to know well.

After watching the cars lap after lap, it was time for an exciting NASCAR finish, and what a finish it was as #10 comes from behind and wins the race! What an amazing day!

HIS FACE LIGHTS UP WHEN HE IS ASKED ABOUT HIS WISH - IT IS SO APPARENT THAT THIS WISH MEANT EVERYTHING TO HIM.Michael’s medical condition presents him with many challenges, however he overcomes them with a contagious zest for life, and in the words of the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, “The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car; it’s the one who refuses to lose.”

Together, we transform lives, one wish at a time.

Upcoming Events for 2020GO BLUE! GO BALD! Would your workplace, sports team or group of friends like to lose the blues and help wishes come true? Organize your own Go Blue! Go Bald! fundraiser or participate in a scheduled head shave! Raise pledges, dye your hair blue and shave/cut your hair in support of Make-A-Wish® Southwestern Ontario.

Too bold of a move for you? Consider hosting a blue-themed event, such as a blue bake sale, blue jeans day or create a wish wall by selling blue paper stars to benefit our wish kids.

JENNA’S GO BLUE! GO BOWLING!Enjoy a fun afternoon with family and friends on Sunday, April 5th at the Palasad South in London. Register your

bowling team (up to 8 people/team) and raise a minimum of $500 to help us transform lives, one wish at a time! Jenna, a former wish kid, likes to Wish It Forward by giving back ever since her wish was granted over 20 years ago!

ROPE FOR HOPEMake-A-Wish® Rope for Hope is a unique challenge event that calls on participants to raise a minimum of $1,500 in pledges in exchange for an exhilarating experience to rappel down a high-profile building. Register your team or sign up solo at ropeforhope.ca

To learn more about all of our upcoming events, please contact Erin Bhatia at (519) 471-4900 ext. 6223 or erin.bhatia@makeawish.ca

SPONSOR OUR EVENTSYour business is invited to join our caring community of event sponsors. You can increase your company’s brand value, employee loyalty and customer base, while helping us create life-changing wishes.

To learn more about event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stephanie Field at (519) 471-4900 ext. 6224 or stephanie.field@makeawish.ca

Please continue to check our website: makeawishswo.ca, for other exciting news and event updates!

I wish to be a Pit Crew Member at a NASCAR RaceMichael, 14Rare genetic disease

Exciting News!We are thrilled to announce Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and Make-A-Wish Canada are joining forces! Together, we will leverage our collective best practices, relationships and strengths, to improve our ability to fundraise, attract and retain the best talent, and ultimately, bring us closer to our goal of granting the wish of every eligible child in Canada.

Learn more at http://thepowerofonewish.ca.

Go Green!We continue to “go green” to help the environment and reduce

both paper use and printing costs. You can help! Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter by e-mail.

Contact us at swontariochapter@makeawish.ca.

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m Yes, I would like to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses

Enclosed is my donation of: m $25 m $50 m $100 m $150 m Other $

I would like to make a monthly donation of: m $10 m $25 m $50 m Other $

Please mail your donation to: Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario 551 Oxford Street West, Suite 207 London, ON N6H 0H9

Legacy of Wishes

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Send acknowledgement to:

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This information collected is to provide you with a tax receipt and wish supporter benefits (such as our bi-annual newsletter and monthly e-newsletter). Should you not want to receive wish supporter benefits, please check this box m

Start Granting Wishes Today!The true impact of a wish cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Yet Make-A-Wish® Southwestern Ontario relies on the support of donors like you to create

an amazing wish experience for each and every wish child. By donating, you will help us fullfill over 200 wishes we currently have in progress. Make your gift today at makeawishswo.ca, or complete and mail the form below. Thank you!

Go Green!We continue to “go green” to help the environment and reduce

both paper use and printing costs. You can help! Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter by e-mail.

Contact us at swontariochapter@makeawish.ca.

Season of Wishes®

This holiday season, include Make-A-Wish® Southwestern Ontario in your celebrations. Take part in the Season of Wishes and help us transform lives, one wish at a time! Visit makeawishswo.ca or call (519) 471-4900.

GIVE THE GIFT OF A WISHYour support this holiday season will help ensure every eligible child experiences the life-changing impact of a wish. Donate $20 or more by December 31st, 2019 to receive your 2019 official charitable tax receipt!

CALENDAR OF WISHESYou’re invited to sponsor our Calendar of Wishes, taking place this December! Our whimsical and inspiring calendar will reveal a wish that has recently been granted each day leading up to the holiday season. Sponsoring our Calendar of Wishes for a minimum contribution of $1,500 can be a meaningful alternative to client/customer holiday gifts or a wonderful way to unite employees in helping a child’s wish come true. If you are interested in joining our caring community of sponsors contact us Stephanie Field at 519-471-4900 ext. 6224 or stephanie.field@makeawish.ca

HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAYIn the spirit of the holiday season, from November 30th to December 31st, Dennis Taylor and Raymie Jewell are once again inviting visitors to their home at 291 Selbourne Drive in Port Stanley for a display including lights synchronized to music as well as a tour of the backyard, which has lights surrounding ponds and up in the trees - over 80,000 lights in total! Lights on every night for drive-by viewing - turn your radio to 99.9 to watch and listen from the comfort of the car. Backyard open Thursday to Sunday, 6 to 9 p.m. (closed Christmas Day and during bad weather). Donations to Make-A-Wish will be gratefully accepted!

TREE OF WISHES Your gift of $20 or more will help the blue lights shine brightly on our Tree of Wishes, in honour of all our wish children! The Tree of Wishes will be lit at the Lighting of the Lights in London’s Victoria Park on November 29th! Be sure to look for lights with an extra sparkle!

SOCKS FOR WISHESLooking for the perfect holiday gift? Visit our office to purchase a pair of Make-A-Wish blue & white star socks or our new teal & white star socks for $20 each! Please call ahead to confirm availability at (519) 471-4900 ext. 6224.

HOST A PARTY WITH A PURPOSESupport from community events is essential to help us continue making wishes come true. Consider hosting your own holiday fundraiser at your workplace, school or in your community like Ice Cream for Breakfast or Wishful Baking!

If you are interested in hosting a fundraising event, please contact Charlene Marsman at 519-471-4900 ext. 6225 or charlene.marsman@makeawish.ca for more information.

Thanks for Giving!

We wish to recognize the generous support of Sportswood Printing

and Interact Direct Marketing Inc., which makes this newsletter possible.

This edition of the Make-A-Wish® newsletter is dedicated to

all of our courageous wish kids.