On Sunday, March 25, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina is pleased to announce its 2012 Walk for Wishes event. This fun 5K walk is held in five cities across eastern North Carolina on the same date. The Make-A-Wish Foundation relies solely on the generous donations of individuals, corporations and foundations, so Walk for Wishes helps increase awareness and engagement in the communities that Make-A-Wish Foundation serves. With a large number of wishes taking place in Cumberland County, Fayetteville is one of the largest of these communities.

It is a priceless feeling to see the sparkle in a child’s eyes accompanied by a smile as wide as the Cape Fear River because you helped make their dreams come true. Jerry Peters, director of community engagement with Make-A-Wish of Eastern North Carolina wants everyone to know that with your help, it is possible. He wants everyone to know that you can help the children in our community who have life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. “Having grown up the son of a Marine Corps fighter pilot, I spent a good bit of my childhood in eastern North Carolina. Like a lot of folks in the area, I knew of the good work that Make-A-Wish did but was not aware that there was a chapter based here,” Peters said.

We have all made wishes in our life and hoped that they could come true. Well, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina grants wishes — and they are going to make some wishes come true right here in our city. “I am extremely fortunate in my job that I am able to witness some of the hope, strength and joy that these wishes provide to the children. No matter how long the wish lasts, whether it is an hour, a day or a full week, these children can forget all about medicine, doctors and hospitals and just to be a kid,” Peters explained.

In February, the Make-A-Wish Foundation started granting wishes to children in Fayetteville. The organization will continue granting wishes over the next few months until the wishes of eight very lucky children are granted. The children range in age from 5 to 18. This year marks the 25th anniversary for the local chapter, which has granted more than 2,300 wishes since it began in 1986. In an effort to get everyone in our community involved, the organization will host Walk for Wishes on March 25 at Festival Park. Registration lasts from 12:30-2 p.m. The walk lasts from 2-3:30 p.m. “Our Walk for Wishes event will help us spread the news about wishes we grant right here in Cumberland County and all of the other 48 counties that we serve in eastern North Carolina,” Peters said. This event will take place in five cities across N.C. on this date, so anyone who wants to make a contribution should come out and show your support.

Participate as a walker, fundraiser, sponsor or volunteer. Visit www.eastnc.wish.org to register. Registration is $25. Kids 13 and younger are free.

Members of any business, organization, school, hospital or religious group can make up a team. Even friends and neighbors can join together in this team effort. Teams consist of a minimum of four people. Each team member must register separately.

For more information, please visit www.eastnc.wish.org or contact Jerry Peters at (919) 821-7111, ext. 203 or via email at jpeters@eastnc.wish.org.

Photo: It is a priceless feeling to see the sparkle in a child’s eyes accompanied by a smile as wide as the Cape Fear River because you helped make their dreams come true.