Each year Make-A-Wish gives a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness the opportunity to have one wish experience. These wishes are only made possible by the fundraising efforts of people all across the country.

In Brookhaven the drive for contributions will begin on Tuesday. The local chapter will kick off the fundraising drive with a meeting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Southway Baptist Church. Since 2003, Judy Arnold has led the charge to help out children in need.

The kickoff meeting is an opportunity to learn more about Make-A-Wish, and to hear from families who have experienced the magic themselves. This year, several families are scheduled to come.

“I love it, they talk about their wish, what they did..,” Arnold said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The kickoff meeting will give everyone interested the information they need to form a team and get started. Each team’s goal is to raise as much money as possible before the Brookhaven Walk for Wishes and Rides for Wishes that will be held Sept. 19. The teams are given free rein for their fundraisers.

 

“We do anything that’s legal,” Arnold said. “Teams sell T-shirts, candy, food plates and have garage sales, everything they can.”

 

All money raised will be donated to Make-A-Wish. If there is a child in the area that qualifies, the money will go directly to his or her wish. Arnold added that there’s a much larger population of qualifying children than most people realize.

 

“People just don’t think we have that many until you see a list of names,” she said.

Arnold said her goal this year is to raise $10,000. She said last year she got really close to her goal, but this year being the 30th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Mississippi, she hopes this occasion will mean success.

 

“I really try to raise the most money I can,” she said.

 

For more information about the kickoff meeting, contact Arnold at 601-754-7068 or Casey Martin at 601-695- 1265.