Actor Vijay breaks into a song in a scene from “Kaavalan” and kisses a little girl on the cheek. One little girl in the audience can't stop grinning. Because, when she met Vijay, he was so taken with her that he featured her in that song. Her meeting with the star was facilitated by the Make A Wish Foundation, Coimbatore chapter.
She was one of the children battling a life-threatening disease who had gathered to celebrate the 31st Anniversary of the Make A Wish Foundation International (MAW). MAW is a non-profit organisation dedicated to granting the most cherished wishes of children between the ages of three and 18 who are living with life-threatening diseases. Uday and Geeta Joshi started MAW in India in 1996 in memory of their son Gandhar who died of leukaemia. The Coimbatore chapter of the foundation began seven years ago, and has since granted the wishes of nearly 1,000 children.
This year, MAW Coimbatore organised a gathering of children, their parents and well wishers at Hotel Rathna Regent. The guests included City Police Commissioner Sylendra Babu and actor Naren. Sylendra Babu spoke with feeling about children. He said as a dad himself he knew the joy of granting his kid's simple wishes and he was moved by the work MAW was doing. Naren said he was honoured to be associated with MAW and be present amongst the crowd that day as he believed that only good souls could do this kind of work.
Naren had come all the way from Kerala to be apart of the function. Both the guests of honour pledged their support to the cause and promised to help in any way they could.
Air Commodore M. Vania, Honorary Director of the Foundation, spoke about the work the Coimbatore chapter had put in and thanked the many supporters (many of them wanted to remain anonymous) without whose unstinting and enthusiastic support it would have been difficult to keep the smiles on the faces of the children. Programme Co-ordinator Bindu Rajiv explained the work of the MAW and also announced a new chapter to be started in Kerala in view of an overwhelming response from there.
The seven wishes granted that evening were touchingly simple. One child had asked for a kitchen set, while another had wanted a cricket kit. A bicycle, a dolls house and a laptop made up the other wishes.
For the kids that MAW works with, the joy and hurly burly of childhood is often replaced with a daily battle for survival, endless rounds of hospitals and strong medication. For parents weighed down by the horrific possibility of losing a child, the joy of seeing their child smile and be happy is immeasurable.
And, MAW is determined to do all it can to spread this happiness and light up the life of a child, however briefly. A short film made by a young MSW student David Windsor showed the work of MAW, Coimbatore and the big smiles it had brought to the faces of children some of whom no longer live.
Grant a wish!
Make A Wish Foundation, Coimbatore, announces an “Adopt a Wish” plan. Those interested could either Those who would like to do so could help the cause by sponsor ing a wish or make ng a donation. All donations are exempt from tax under section 80 (G). A generous sprinkling of the audience immediately responded and pledged their support.
If you want to do the same, or want to know more about the organisation, call 95008-95790, mail . You could mail to mawfcoimbatore@gmail.com or visit the website www.mawindia.com.
