2009-04-22 - The Vancouver Sun
By: Mia Stainsby
Making children's wishes come true
Daisy Irwin, 3, here with chef Rob Feenie, got a trip to Walt Disney World.
Everyone hurts when children suffer from a devastating illness. Thank goodness for the rays of sunshine cast by Make-A-Wish Foundation. They grant wishes to these suffering sweeties.
On April 30, Make-A-Wish B.C. and Yukon will hold its sixth annual fundraiser with Sweet Dreams Dessert Day. Some 100 B.C. restaurants will donate proceeds from their desserts sales that day.
"It's an economical way to celebrate an important children's charity while treating yourself and the family to a scrumptious dessert," says publicist Margaret Bryant. Last year, the organization raised more than $25,000; Bryant says the average cost of a "wish" is $6,000.
Three-year-old Daisy Irwin of Sooke mugged for the cameras with chef Rob Feenie of Cactus Club restaurants (a participant) to promote the event. She was a Make-A-Wish recipient last year and went to Walt Disney World in Florida. When Daisy was 10 weeks old, she was diagnosed with two forms of leukemia and required a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy before her first birthday. She's recovered but she's all for making wishes come true for other children.
Many of the participating restaurants are family-friendly chains, like ABC Country, Cactus Club, Red Robin, Swiss Chalet and Sammy J. Peppers. Others include Grouse Mountain's Altitudes and Observatory, Glowbal, Coast, Hamilton Street Grill, Italian Kitchen, Sanafir, Mosaic Bar and Grill, Ocean Club (West Vancouver) and Simba's.
For a complete list, go to www.makeawishbc.ca.
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