A young woman recently came to the Blessing Cancer Center for her treatment and left with two tickets to Hawaii – courtesy of Make-A-Wish Illinois.
Surrounded by her Blessing Cancer Center caregiving team at the presentation, Alana Orr of Mt. Sterling also received a number of gifts for the trip from Make-A-Wish. She says she is overwhelmed.
“It’s always been my dream place because of the beaches and the warm temperature and Honolulu and luaus and the culture,” the 18-year-old said. “And the coconuts, too.”
Cathy Brogdon watched as Alana opened her gifts for the trip she will take this fall. Cathy is a volunteer with Make-A-Wish Illinois and a member of the organization’s regional council. Her son was a Make-A-Wish recipient.
“My husband and I got into this to give back and pay it forward,” Cathy said. “It’s such an honor to be able to do this and see the joy that it brings. That’s what it is all about.”
People age 18 and younger with potentially life-threatening conditions are eligible to receive a wish. For more information go to wish.org/refer-a-child and wish.org/illinois/ways-help-us. Or you can call Cathy – who happens to work at the Blessing Cancer Center when not volunteering with Make-A-Wish – at 217-223-8400, ext. 7724. She says more Make-A-Wish volunteers are needed.