Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai Two critically ill teenage sisters have been given the chance to perform Umrah through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The girls will be flown to Saudi Arabia for five days after Eid Al Fitr to perform the Muslim pilgrimage with their parents.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is dedicated to assisting children diagnosed with a life threatening medical condition and their families by providing hope and joy by granting special ‘wishes’.
The sisters’ names, nationality and ages have been withheld to respect their privacy, said Mary Corrado, Adviser to the Chairperson of Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, Shaikha Shaikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan — wife of Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Adviser to the President of the UAE.
However, the organisation looks into wishes of children residing in the UAE only.
Make-A-Wish UAE is the only representation of the international organisation in the Middle East. This year, the organisation aimed to fulfil 200 wishes during Ramadan alone through sponsorship and financial donations made by businesses.
The sisters’ Umrah wish is being sponsored by Al Ain Mineral Water.
“The wishes we get range from meeting their favourite football star, someone inspiring from the Royal family to laptops and PlayStations.
A child once wished for a day in the life of a policeman. The Dubai Police were extremely cooperative and gave the child a uniform, a ride in the police car and helicopter, and a visit to the headquarter,” said Corrado.
Another wish that was recently realised was a helicopter ride over Abu Dhabi.
“We also get some heartwarming wishes like a vehicle, so that the child’s father can drive him to the hospital for his treatment sessions,” she added.
Wishes are brought to reality by the Foundation whose wish-process involves actively visiting hospitals in and around the Emirates and liaising with medical professionals and social workers to make experiences that will delight and inspire children with terminal conditions possible.
“The process usually involves medical staff from various hospitals in the UAE identifying children with life-threatening illnesses, who have certain wishes. Sometimes, parents approach Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfil their child’s wish,” said Corrado.
Contact
Volunteering information for residents can be found on www.makeawish.ae, or by calling the Dubai office at 04-358 92 00, or e-mailing info@makeawish.ae
By Emmanuelle Landais?Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
