I have participated in the Trailblaze Challenge 5 times in the past 3 years and am so excited to conquer it not once but twice again this year...and hopefully for as many years as I can!  This year my team, Miles For Smiles will take on Oregon in July and North Carolina in October. In addition to the physical challenge of this one day, 28 mile hike, I have committed myself to raising money for Make-A-Wish to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.  With your help it's possible.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is near and dear to my heart.  Wish kids are some of the bravest and sweetest kids you'll ever know and my Grand-Niece Marcee is one of these children.  Marcee was born with Down's Syndrome and then just before her 4th birthday was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  Marcee had the odds stacked against her. All of the doctor visits, treatments and constant up and downs took a toll on the entire family.  I am grateful to say that Marcee fought and won her cancer battle and is now a happy, healthy and very active teenager.

Marcee was granted a Wish which was a trip to San Diego so that she could meet her extended family (like myself) and visit Disneyland, Legoland and the beach. Marcee's family is forever grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for providing the entire family with such an incredible experience and grateful that Marcee could end her cancer journey in such a positive way.

Although Make-A-Wish grants more than 15,000 wishes nationwide every year, that is only 50% of the eligible kids.  Every hour of every day, on average, three children are diagnosed with a critical illness. Every one of these kids needs a wish to give them strength and help them heal.  I’m fundraising so more deserving kids and their families can know the true happiness, relief and renewal a wish can bring.

These essential wishes are only possible because of supporters like you. Together, we are transforming lives- One wish at a time!

Thank you,

Laura Wittak