Please join me and my family at Walk for Wishes 2024 and come hear me kick of the event playing the national anthem on my trombone.

My name is Sam Kagan and I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August 2022 as I was entering my Sophomore year of high school and beginning marching band season. What was supposed to be the beginning of my school year became brain surgery, followed by pathology showing a grade 3 astrocytoma, followed by chemo and radiation and then 10 months of oral chemotherapy. There were many challenges during my treatment including rashes, fatigue and feeling just terrible during this time but one of the things that kept me going and connected was my love of music. I wrote a song that was dedicated to the center where I had my radiation and continued to play in both concert band and jazz band at Naperville Central High School. 

On May 2, 2022 Make a Wish granted me my wish which was a custom bass trombone from Edwards. I visited their factory in Wisconsin, had an individual custom fitting with Christian and Jesse and was lucky enough to meet the owner Brett Getzen. It was the best day of my life.

Playing my trombone I auditioned for and was accepted into Naperville Central's jazz studio orchestra and wind ensemble. I also successfully auditioned for the Elgin Symphony Youth Orchestra where I am involved with two ensembles and the orchestra.

The summer of 2024 offered a few other amazing experiences in kicking off Lurie’s Children’s fundraising walk, Move For Kids. I was invited to represent wish kids at the Make a Wish Gala and played at the Magic Moments Gala at the Navy Pier ballroom with the band Too Much Molly and to end the summer on August 17 I walked onto Wrigley Field and played the Canadian and American Anthems to support cancer research at the Cubs for a Cure weekend. All of this thanks for my Edwards Trombone gifted from Make a Wish.

I am proud to kick off the 2024 Walk for Wishes to help support this organization that made me hopeful and happy during cancer treatment. Please join my team so Make a Wish can continue granting wishes to kids all though Illinois. It really does matter.

Will you help us support Make-A-Wish by donating today or joining our team today?