Air Academy High School is hosting their annual Make-a-Wish fundraiser this May. This year, all money raised will be going towards granting eleven-year-old Amya’s wish to go to Paris.

Make-a-Wish is an organization that lifts the spirits of children with life-threatening medical conditions through the fulfillment of wishes. Wishes are driven from the child’s interests and personality. Travel is the most popular wish with Disney World being the top destination. Other wishes range from meeting celebrities to receiving electronics, or getting the chance to meet a cowboy or professional athlete, for example. “For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. That is why wishes matter. That is why we grant wishes.” (wish.org). Make-a-Wish Colorado Chapter granted 245 wishes last year with the support of high schools. On average, a wish costs $7,000. This year, Air Academy’s goal is to raise $10,000 to send Amya on the trip of her dreams to Paris!

National Honor Society, along with the support of Student Council are planning great activities to raise money. Along with the annual Dream Dash 5k, there will be an assembly and a Wish Week. I interviewed Taryn Wingett, an NHS officer, to get the inside scoop on Make-a-Wish activities.

What is Wish Week?

“It’s a week where we will celebrate Amya. We will have spirit days during wish week that represent her favorite things, her favorite color or Paris themed ideas. This will be the main week of the school year where we try to fund raise as much money for her trip as we can.”

How will NHS raise money?

“Friday, May 5th, we will be having an assembly to broadcast what will be happening during Wish Week. We have teamed up with student council to help NHS fund raise during that week. We will have a bake sale going one of the days. We will also be selling Make-a-Wish t-shirts, along with, wrist bands, tattoos, and stars. Finally, we will be also selling blue stars for $1 where you put your name on them and they will get placed on the window outside of student services so the school knows you have supported Amya.”

How can students get involved?

“Students can get involved by supporting our Wish week spirit days and helping us fund raise money for Amya. At the assembly, May 5th we will have a school wide donation minute, so students need to bring lots of change.  The best way to get involved is to sign up for our Dream Dash 5k. It’s only a $20 registration fee which includes a Dream Dash t-shirt and a star with your name on it hung up in the school. Families/ participants can create teams and have fun. If running is not your thing, it can be easily be walked with a group of friends. If you don’t want to do the race, then you could donate money to us to be given to Amya’s trip or buy one of our make a wish t-shirts. We need all the help we can get since we are trying to raise  $10,000!”

Thanks, Taryn! Let’s get involved Kadets, and make Wish Week awesome!!