Brimbank volunteers needed to make wishes come true

Make-A-Wish Australia volunteers Ana Mrnjaus, Monica Lam and Tammy Dinh. Photo: Luke Hemer

Granting a wish to a child in poor health is a precious gift and more Brimbank residents are needed to do exactly that for hundreds facing life-threatening illnesses.

The eight-member Sunshine branch of Make-A-Wish Australia is looking for more volunteers to meet kids and host fundraising events and activities.

The organisation’s only branch in Melbourne’s west, the Sunshine hub delivers a higher number of wishes than most with volunteers encouraged to give several hours a week, or a month, of their time.

One local beneficiary was seven-year-old James Bloor, of Hoppers Crossing, who is in remission from burkitt lymphoma.

The Sunshine branch helped send him to the Gold Coast last November.

“It was a great experience,” his mother, Toni, said. “He still talks about it – it gave him something to look forward to during his cancer treatment. He’s now 20 months cancer-free and doing well.”

Since 1985, more than 8000 wishes have been granted to seriously ill children and teenagers around the nation through Make-A-Wish.

Call Jayde on 1800 032 260 or email enquiries@makeawish.org.au to register your interest.

All ages and backgrounds are welcome.

The group meets at 8pm on the first Monday of every month at the Sunshine RSL.