TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - On Aug. 19, Make-A-Wish® Eastern Ontario, together with Charmed Playhouses, granted a very special backyard wish for nine-year-old Kael.
"The look on Kael's face when he saw his playhouse for the first time was so special," says Tanya Desjardins, CEO, Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario. "An amazing team of staff and volunteers joined together to help bring the magical structure to life. We were able to decorate the house with Kael's favourite colour orange and incorporate items to truly make the house a personal place for Kael to play and relax with friends and family. Oh yes, and it also has a slide!"
The Frankville, Ont. boy was diagnosed with a combined immunodeficiency disorder several years ago and received a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother during his treatment. It was at this time that he qualified for a wish through Make-A-Wish® and the plans to build his dream playhouse began.
Having grown up on his family's dairy farm, Kael loves spending time outdoors and has always wanted a treehouse or clubhouse of his own to share with his siblings, Charlotte, Eamon and Lochlan. Make-A-Wish and Kael's wish grantors reached out to Calgary's Charmed Playhouses, a company that specializes in wooden playhouses for kids, and they got to work on creating a kid-friendly cabin for Kael. The playhouse travelled all the way from Calgary to arrive at Kael's home on Friday where loved ones gathered for the big reveal.
"We are extremely excited to have Kael's wish here on our property," says Kael's mom, Emily. "The kids are enjoying countless hours each day playing, planning and connecting like children should. Kael's wish went beyond just a tangible item that he could look forward to, it was about having a childhood, spending time with his best friends (his siblings) and having a place he could 'escape' to. Dealing with an illness means a world of procedures and complications all out of your control -- this wish gives him back some control and adds adventure to his once dreary days. The best part about having a cool clubhouse is the company you share it with. We are sure that many memories will be made in the 'Hideout'."
You may remember Kael from the recent SickKids Unpaused campaign, including television ads that showed him during and after his treatment.
About Make-A-Wish® Canada
Make-A-Wish Canada is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, eight (8) regional chapters grant magical wishes to children in need from coast to coast. Make-A-Wish Canada is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish® International. Make-A-Wish® is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 350,000 children since 1980. For more information, please visit www.makeawish.ca.
Contact Information:
For more information or to arrange an interview with Kael and his family, please contact:
Deborah Waines-Bauer
Officer, Marketing & Communications
Make-A-Wish® Canada
deborah.wainesbauer@makeawish.ca
Tel: 1.888.822.9474