By Staff
MAKE-A-WISH KIDS Jeremy Snyder, left, is joined by Cain Brooks and Jerrick Anderson at Meridian's Highland Park. The three were recently granted wishes by the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Mississippi. They also will participate in the Walk for Wishes at the park on Saturday, a fund-raiser for the Meridian chapter of Make-A-Wish. Photo by Penny Randall/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
March 28, 2004
Six-year-old Cain Brooks' only wish in the world was to visit Walt Disney World and meet Mickey Mouse.
So, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi granted Cain his wish in February 2002.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Wishes can range from all-expense-paid trips to buying a child a computer.
To raise money to grant more wishes, the Meridian chapter will sponsor a Walk for Wishes. The walk, part of Meridian's Arts in the Park and sponsored with help from BankPlus, starts at 8 a.m. Saturday in Highland Park.
Wishes granted
During the past five years the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi has granted 18 wishes in Lauderdale, 10 in Clarke, five in Jasper, five in Neshoba and three in Newton counties.
Cain made the trip to Walt Disney World with his mother, grandmother, grandfather and aunt.
Harris soon learned she need not feel embarrassed Make-A-Wish made her family feel special.
Tucker and her husband, Tracy, have been involved with Make-A-Wish for 10 years after her husband's nephew died from neuroblastoma cancer at the age of 4.
How to nominate
Children are nominated for a wish by either a family member, a physician or a social worker.
Jerrick Anderson, 16, a student at Meridian High School who suffers from muscular dystrophy and heart problems, was nominated by his physician. Jerrick's wish of a shopping spree was granted in January.
Dawson said volunteers with Make-A-Wish will always be special to her family.
Cain and Jerrick are not the only children in East Mississippi granted wishes by Make-A-Wish.
Jeremy Snyder of Meridian, a 16-year-old homeschooler who suffers from leukemia, was granted his wish in December 2003.
He wanted to travel. So Jeremy, his parents, Roger and Joyce Snyder, and his older sister, Ashley, were sent on a cruise to the Caribbean.
GET INVOLVED
What: Meridian chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi
Meets: Second Thursday of each month, noon-1 p.m.
Where: Rush Foundation Hospital, sixth floor classroom
Call: Jane Walsh at (800) 819-4072
Walk for Wishes: Saturday at Meridian's Highland Park
Time: Registration in begins at 7 a.m.; walk starts at 8 a.m.