A MAKE-A-WISH FAMILY HELPS MAKE WISHES COME TRUE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – A Make-A-Wish family whose wish was already granted is now helping to make other families’ wishes come true.
To look at five and half-year-old Ryan Branscome, you would never know he was sick.
“More often than not, you'll never know he's a different kid. We're doing T-ball this year, we swim, we do everything a normal six-year-old does,” said Doug Branscome, Ryan’s father.
When Ryan was three-years-old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a form of Leukemia. He spent ten days in Riley Hospital for Children, went through treatments, and lost his hair. Then, the Make-A-Wish Foundation stepped in.
“A wish is chance for a child to dream and use their imagination and have something to look forward to,” said Randi Kelly, Development Associate for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. “We start with the question, if you could have anything what would it be? If you could go anywhere where would it be?” For Ryan that was Disney World.
“My favorite was the real Candy Land. You use yourself for the game pieces,” said Ryan pretending to walk through the game.
“It was really awesome that we got to go on all those rides and stay at our own home,” said his 7-year-old sister, Katelyn.
“That was a big step to go through all that treatment and then here our reward was to take this awesome trip where they just spoil you rotten,” said Brandie, their mom.
“The Make-A-Wish trip for us was getting away, getting to go somewhere, getting away from the everyday treatments,” Doug said.
Now it's their turn to make other's dreams come true. Ryan will be the honorary "Wish Child" for the very first “Walkin’ for Wishes” in his hometown of Fort Wayne on June 30 in Headwaters Park.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Indiana grants 250-265 wishes state-wide, 85 wishes a year in Northeast Indiana. At this year's Walkin’ for Wishes they hope to raise over $50,000.
“We have a huge need in Northeast Indiana for more volunteers and more funding. This walk is not only going to help drive that funding, but also bring awareness to who we are that we are present here,” said Kelly.
“You know, it's just a simple show up for a walk, donate a few dollars, donate your airline miles. Things that are easy and people do a lot of, and help us help them,” said Brandie.
For more information and to register for the Inaugural Walkin’ for Wishes, click on “Make-A-Wish” under News Links on our homepage.
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