15 Oct 2013

Her Wish to Visit Comic Con International Comes True

By Amy Lane

Make-A-Wish® Illinois grants wish to teen girl with life-threatening illness

PEORIA - Kelly Suarez's wish to visit Comic Con resulted in an experience of a life-time that included unique costumes, brushes with celebrities and a trip to San Diego over the summer.

Kelly, age 14 of Sterling, is a shy and soft-spoken teenager that loves to read graphic novels and watch her favorite television shows.  In early 2010, Kelly was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer.

After being referred to Make-A-Wish during her treatment, Kelly wished to go to Comic-Con International in San Diego to meet her favorite characters.  Comic-Con International: San Diego is a convention that celebrates the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. Kelly traveled nearly 2,000 miles from home with her mother and sister.  Amy Suarez, Kelly's mom, described Kelly's Wish as "awesome and crazy."  Kelly met members of the cast of the hit television show How I Met Your Mother, the creator of The Walking Dead and caught a great photo opportunity with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Wish granting volunteer, Mary Beth Eggers, helped Kelly and her little sister prepare for the trip.  Eggers enlisted the help of local seamstress Julie Doty to make the girls custom costumes for the day.  Both girls had a hand in the design process from colors to props.  Kelly dressed as Link from The Legend of Zelda and her sister dressed as Carl from The Walking Dead.  Eggers also took Amy and her sister to a book store to pick out a few books on their favorite characters as well.  "She went above and beyond anything that we could have ever expected," Amy said of Mary Beth.

While on the wish, Kelly and her family met several other wish families at the event and have remained in contact with a wish family from Texas.  Currently cancer free, Kelly will have the memories of Comic Con to look back on as she ventures to the next chapter of her life.

About Make-A-Wish® Illinois

Make-A-Wish Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. Since being founded locally in 1985, the chapter has granted more than 11,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with special children across the state.  For more information or to find out how you can help, call 309.530.0080 or visit www.illinois.wish.org
29 Aug 2013

Walk & Run for Wishes Moline Early Registration Deadline Nearing

By Amy Lane
Early Registration for Costumed Walk and Run Ends September 1st

 

PEORIA - Come as your favorite character to the Make-A-Wish Illinois Walk & Run for Wishes on Saturday, September 28 at Green Valley Sports Complex in Moline, and you can make wishes come true for local children with life-threatening medical conditions. Individuals and teams can participate and raise funds while enjoying the whimsical nature of the event. General Registration is $25 for adults, and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Following September 1st, an additional $5 will be added to each registration fee. Early registration prior to September 23rd also guarantees that participants will receive a custom event t-shirt.

Stepping off from Green Valley Sports Complex in Moline at 9:30 a.m., the event includes a 5K fun run and a leisurely 1 mile walk around the riverfront area. Refreshments, music and other entertainment will round out the celebration, with prizes awarded for top fundraisers as well as best youth and adult costumes. Additional details and registration are available online at www.walkrunwish.org. There is also an opportunity for "Virtual Walkers," participants who do not plan to attend the walk event but want to fundraise to help make wishes come true. "Virtual Walkers" who fundraise over $100 for Make-A-Wish will receive a free Make-A-Wish t-shirt! Presented by Unity Point Health Trinity and Tennant Truck Lines, Inc, all funds raised at Walk & Run for Wishes will benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois.

"We're excited to present this community event that is not only fun for people of all ages and abilities, but one that really makes a difference for the courageous kids we work with every day," said Janet Bantz Glavin, Community Relations Manager for Make-A-Wish Illinois.

This year, Make-A-Wish Illinois will grant wishes to more than 700 kids in Illinois who are living with life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, renal disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Wishes can be a turning point in a child's battle against illness and help children feel stronger, more energetic and more willing and able to comply with treatment protocols. Additionally, wishes empower children to take control over an aspect of their lives while helping them feel less isolated and more self-confident.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish® Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. Since being founded locally in 1985, the chapter has granted more than 11,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with special children across the state with help from dedicated volunteers and generous community members.

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