Middle Schoolers Learn Life Lessons Granting Wishes

Thanks to the students and staff of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, eight-year-old Daniel Wallace will be going to Disney World in Florida this June.

Daniel, who is battling acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, was granted the trip through the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

“I was happy when I heard my wish was granted,” Daniel said. “I am looking forward to going on all the rides and meeting the characters.”

This year, the middle school raised $40,884 for Make-A-Wish Foundation through their seventh-annual walk-a-thon fundraiser. For over seven years, students have granted 52 wishes. During the walk-a-thon, students walk laps around the school and friends and family pledge money that goes towards Make-A-Wish.

Sofia Georgelos, an eighth-grade social studies teacher and one of three faculty sponsors of the school’s student council, who organized the event, said the fundraiser began after one of the middle school's own students was granted a wish.

“The fundraiser was started in memory of Brad Papala, a 2003 graduate of McGugan who passed away in July 2004 after losing his battle with cancer,” Georgelos said.

Brad received a fishing boat as his wish. Theresa Roche, a mathematics teacher and another faculty sponsor of student council, said the boat provided special time for Brad and his family.

“He was able to spend quality time with his family on the boat, and they were able to escape the reality they were facing,” Roche said.

“Our students have raised over $270,000 in the seven years of the walk-a-thon. This is money raised by children, for children, and it is remarkable.”

A former wish receipt, Julie Campbell, 19, spoke to the students about their work with Make-A-Wish.

“You guys are an inspiration,” Campbell said.

“I was diagnosed in 2008 with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After a year of treatment, I decided I wanted to go to Hawaii with my family. I swam with dolphins and went on a helicopter tour of the volcanoes, and it helped me get through what I was going through. It means so much to me that you are raising this money.”

Katie McCallum, the development manager for Make-A-Wish, said that the average cost of a wish is $5,000, and the most popular wish is to go to Disney World.

Oliver Canales, 4, of Bridgeview, just returned from Disney World this week. He came to the assembly wearing his Mickey Mouse ears. His mother, Rebecca, thanked the students.

“I just want to say thank you,” Canales said.

“We were able to take a wonderful trip. One year ago, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, he is in remission and doing very well. He wanted to meet Mickey, and he got to do that. Everyone at Disney treated our family like royalty.”

 McCallum said that she believed the students were impacted by the fundraiser.     

“When you instill in them a sense of philanthropy and community service, it carries with them throughout their lives,” McCallum said.

“Students take an end of year survey when they are eighth-graders about their best memories of Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, and 90 percent of them reference the Make-A-Wish fundraiser.”

Georgelos said that granting wishes helped change the children’s lives – both those who were granted wishes and those who helped grant them.

 “Make-A-Wish is so important because its focus is:  children who are facing life threatening medical conditions,” Georgelos said.

“Make-A-Wish has a life changing impact on children and their families. It gives them hope, laughter and memorable moments.  This experience teaches our children the importance of giving back and helping others.”