In the North West, we’ve already brought magic to life by granting 1,288 life-changing wishes. But right now, 136 children across the region are still waiting for their wish to come true. These wishes reflect their hopes and dreams – from being an actress on a big stage and feeding an elephant as a zookeeper, to having a racetrack experience with Audis or spending the day with a monkey and going on a rollercoaster.

With your support, we can turn these dreams into reality and create moments of joy and hope for children who need them most. Just like we did for Isla.

In May 2019, five-year-old Isla underwent surgery to remove a kidney after being diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a rare kidney cancer. Her grueling treatment plan, which included chemotherapy and repeated hospital stays, was tough on her and her family. To celebrate the end of her treatment, they planned a princess-themed birthday party—marking a moment of hope after so much uncertainty.

While recovering, a social worker introduced Isla to Make-A-Wish, sparking her excitement. Inspired by her love for YouTube, she wished to meet YouTuber Rosie McClelland and create her own video. In February 2020, that dream became a reality. Isla was gifted a laptop and vlogging camera before visiting Rosie’s home, where they made a video together—turning Isla into the YouTuber she had always dreamed of being.

Her mum, Jill, described the experience as transformative, shifting Isla’s mindset from fear to hope. “It changed her outlook from ‘Am I going to get better?’ to ‘When I get better.’”