Media Advisory: 90 Individuals Rappel Toronto City Hall at Make-A-Wish(R) Rope for Hope

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 12, 2012) - On June 19, 2012, 90 individuals, corporate teams, and wish families will bravely rappel down 30-stories of Toronto City Hall at the first annual Make-A-Wish® Rope for Hope.

Rope for Hope is an exclusive challenge event that calls on participants to raise pledges in exchange for an once-in-a-lifetime experience to rappel off of the east tower of Toronto's iconic City Hall. The event is expected to raise close to $100,000 to support local wish granting efforts to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

"We are thrilled to see corporate teams and local supporters rallying together to take part in year one of this exclusive event," said Sheila Rees, Regional Director Toronto and Central Ontario, Make-A-Wish. "The level of wish family participation in Rope for Hope also reiterates the significant impact that the wish experience had on them as well."

Wish Family Rappeller Highlights:

• Wish Child Owen, 4, HLS, "I wish to be a firefighter," and his family will be cheering on wish dad Brian in his rappel and friendly competition against Firefighter Shaun from York Fire Services who granted Owen's wish in April. Rappel time - 10 a.m.
  
  
• Wish Brother Kevin, is raising money for Make-A-Wish and rappelling in support of his younger brother Jake, 7, Leukemia, who is in the wish granting process. Rappel time - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Wish Child Tara, 18, Cystic Fibrosis, "I wish to meet the cast of Glee." Tara had her wish granted in 2011 and had a double lung transplant in February 2012. She is now out of hospital and doing so well that both her and her dad are going over Toronto City Hall as a team to support Make-A-Wish. Rappel time - 12:30 p.m.
  
  
• Wish Child Rohan, 18, Central Nervous System Vasculitis, "I wish to go to the Olympics." Rohan had his wish granted in 2010 when he went to Vancouver to the Olympics, and now he looks for opportunities to support Make-A-Wish and share his wish story and the hope, strength and joy that his wish gave him. Rappel time - 1 p.m.
  
  
• Wish Child and Wish Ambassador, Madison, 14, Leukemia, "I wish to meet the cast of Glee". Madison and her best friend, YTV's Life with Boys star, Michael Murphy, are rappelling City Hall together on June 19 to support Make-A-Wish. Rappel time - 1:30 p.m.
  
  
• Wish Child Mariana, 15, Leukemia - Mariana is a wish child currently going through the wish granting process, and is taking part in Rope for Hope to further support Make-A-Wish. Rappel time - 3 p.m.
  
  

Please note: Media must request interviews in advance.

Special thanks to Make-A-Wish Rope for Hope Official Suppliers WestJet Cares for Kids and Sony Canada Charitable Foundation, and to Over the Edge for Operations/Event Management.

* All monies raised by Make-A-Wish Rope for Hope rappellers go to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

About Make-A-Wish^® Canada

Make-A-Wish Canada is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children across Canada living with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, seven independent 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, the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 290,000 children since 1980. To learn more please visit www.makeawish.ca.