Make-A-Wish says 'heartbreaking' drop in donations may leave children's wishes unfulfilled
Make-A-Wish Ireland has said a "heartbreaking" drop in revenues means it will not be able to grant every wish it receives from seriously ill children this year.
The charity, which aims to grant the wishes of children aged between three and 17 years living with life-threatening medical conditions, said it had suffered a 30% drop in donations because of the Rehab and CRC controversies.
Make-A-Wish granted 210 wishes in 2013, up 63% from 2012. However, it warned today that figure could drop to about 150 in 2014.
Chief executive Susan O'Dwyer said that of the kind of wishes that my be impossible to grant to the drop in funds, "One (came from) a young boy (who was) living with leukaemia and who wished to be a knight in shining armour and rescue a dog.
"His wish was granted in Donegal and was truly memorable for the entire family. Unfortunately, he did pass away but the dog he rescued, Bonnie, still lives with the family. That family is still in touch with Make A Wish and are still fundraising."
