A big thank you to everyone at StC Payroll Giving for all your hard work recruiting donors for us this year – recruiting around double the donors for us in 2013 than the year before. It’s been a real boost in what has generally been a tough year for us fundraising-wise.
The money from donors you have recruited has been helping us grant wishes all year. Recently, we granted six year old Lana Donaldson from Chirmside’s wish. Thanks to your help, she was transported to a snowy winter wonderland in Lapland.
Lana was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia (bone marrow failure) in November 2012. Lana’s three year old sister Lydia was found to be a donor match and the bone marrow transplant took place in March 2013. Sadly, Lana caught norovirus after the transplant, which meant for a period she was blood transfusion dependent again. She is now on immune suppressant drugs to prevent her rejecting the bone marrow, but the long term prognosis is unknown.
Lana was inspired to visit Lapland because she loves Christmas, Santa and snow! Upon arrival in Lapland, Lana and her family were kitted out in thermal clothing before settling down for the evening, ready for the next few days of festive fun. They were treated to a husky ride, met some of the reindeer and elves, rode skidoos and got to look around Santa’s workshop, before setting off through the winter wonderland in search of Father Christmas!
Mum, Julia said “last Christmas was filled with worry, but this year we enjoyed a magical family experience in Lapland. The wish has given Lana confidence and the chance to be a child again. Lapland is very cold so there are less bugs; she enjoyed having freedom outside and especially loved the husky ride. Thank you Make-A-Wish, it was amazing to spend such a special time together as a family”.
Thank you so much from us all at Make-A-Wish.