SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings to Help Raise Money for Make-A-Wish

Published on November 17, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss.—RiverKings fans will have the opportunity to help grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening illness during Make-A-Wish night at Thursday's game against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at 7 p.m. at the DeSoto Civic Center.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South, Inc. grants wishes for children who have life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. In March, RiverKings fans raised $2,400 of the $5,000 needed to grant a wish when the organization sold commemorative pucks during several RiverKings games.

This year, the RiverKings have added two colors to the bright red signature pucks: orange and blue. Eight dollars from each $10 puck will go to finish out the RiverKings' fund to help grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening medical condition.

"We want to give children something to look forward to other than doctors, nurses and hospital visits," said Cortney Greene, Communications Coordinator for the Mid-South chapter of the foundation. "We don't claim to perform miracles, but we've seen children smile who haven't smiled in a year in anticipation of that wish. We've seen miracles happen as a result of the spirit of hope born in children, all because of the gift of someone who has never met that child. Wishes are very powerful."

In March, Jerry "The King" Lawler was on hand at a RiverKings game to help grant a wish provided by a donation from Domino's Pizza. The wish allowed a child with a catastrophic disease to go to Disney Land with his parents. This is just one example of wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish organization.

The foundation categories wishes in four ways: the wish to meet, the wish to go, the wish to be, and the wish to see something. Greene said the wish is all about reaching the heart and soul of the particular child, allowing them to think and dream the seemingly impossible.

"We've had several wish children locally who were so affected by the wish that was granted to them that they have started raising money to grant another child's wish while continuing to battle their own illness," Greene said. "That's what a wish does. It grows and snowballs. It inspires people. It's unbelievable."

Memphis RiverKings players Jonathan Gagnon and Jean-Francois Racine will be at Starbucks coffee house on Goodman Road on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in support of Make-A-Wish's "Stories of Light" campaign. Attendees may try their hand at the Cellular South Slapshot inflatable. The RiverKings will give away tickets for donations to Make-A-Wish and FM 100 will perform a live remote on the air featuring interviews with Wish kids.

The Mid-South chapter of Make-A-Wish was founded in 1986 and covers the territories of North Mississippi, West Tennessee, and Arkansas. For more information on getting involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South, Inc. call 901-680-WISH or visit the Web at www.midsouthwish.org.

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