From 8-10th December, over 30 families from across the UK and Europe were granted their Disney wish to go to Disneyland Paris. The children and those closest to them spent a Weekend of Wonder at Disneyland Paris.
The weekend was filled with fun activities from meeting Disney characters, enjoying the rides, watching shows, parades and spectacular fireworks! Each wish child had their own Disney VoluntEAR who was on-hand to guide them around Disneyland Paris.
One wish, from Make-A-Wish UK, was Arthur, a ten-year-old boy, diagnosed with bone cancer in his knee at the age of 9. Arthur wished to go to Disneyland Paris and had his wish revealed at a special preview screening of Wish, where he was surprised by Ariana DeBose, the voice of Asha. His highlights from the weekend at Disneyland Paris, where he was joined by his mum, dad and sister, were meeting all his favorite Disney characters, including Spider-Man and Mickey Mouse, and going on every single ride, over and over again! Talking about their Disneyland Paris experience, his mum, Michelle commented: “to have these memories together – there aren’t really words. It’s everything we could have wished for.”
Sara Hanson, The Walt Disney Company’s Director, Social Responsibility, EMEA said: “As part of Disney’s social purpose, we’re so proud to be able to work with wish granting partners, like Make-A-Wish, to create moments that matter and build emotional resilience for families and children when they need it the most. The Weekend of Wonder is a great example of how we can come together to create these memories and make wishes come true for so many families at Disneyland Paris.”
Elise Murray, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Make-A-Wish International added: “Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses around the world. Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. It was special to see so many life-changing wishes come true for our wish children, from across Europe, at Disneyland Paris. This weekend will bring hope, strength and joy to these children and their families.”
For more than 40 years, Disney and Make-A-Wish have been making life-changing wishes come true for children living with serious illnesses. More than 150,000 children have had their wishes granted around the world, creating moments that matter.