When he was seven months old, Christos was diagnosed with adrenal cancer and pancreatic cancer.  For two years, he struggled through chemotherapy and two blood infections, all while learning to crawl and then walk with an IV pole hooked up to him.  In January, he and his family traveled to Florida for his wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort.

The wish began with a white limo picking up the wish family at their Eugene home and escorting them to the airport.  When they arrived in Florida, volunteers greeted them and then were whisked away to Give Kids The World (GKTW), where they would be staying throughout the wish trip. 

The five-year-old got to see his favorite characters - Mickey Mouse and Spiderman - when they visited kids staying at GKTW.  One night, GKTW’s Mayor Clayton (a rabbit character) even tucked Christos and his sisters into bed.  Christos mom said that they laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes as she looked on.  She could hear them “still giggling as Mayor Clayton left the villa.”

Christos also ventured to many of the theme parks in the area in addition to Walt Disney World, like Universal’s Adventure Islands, SeaWorld, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park.  His favorite memory was getting splashed by Shamu at SeaWorld.

Christos and his family thoroughly enjoyed Florida and the unforgettable Make-A-Wish® experience.  The family would love to thank everyone involved in making his wish-come-true, as this is something they will always remember.  This past month, Christos celebrated four years of being in remission with both of his cancers. 

Mr. Skyview

If you live in the Vancouver area, and are interested in seeing a phenomenal group of students entertain you for an evening, we encourage you to attend the Mr. Skyview pageant!

Skyview High School is hosting its annual pageant on Friday, April 20 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon.  This event is an excellent example of kids helping kids in their community through philanthropy and school spirit. Several boys compete for “Mr. Skyview” as they fundraise for the Foundation throughout the months of March and April. The students’ efforts will culminate with an the pageant at 7 p.m. in the Skyview High School auditorium. With talent performances, skits, choreographed dances and much more, the evening promises to be fun for all.

Skyview High School has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon for several years, with last year’s efforts raising more than $21,000 for local wish kids. Skyview High School is located at 1300 NW 139th Street in Vancouver.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Jolene Bevill at 360-313-4200 or email .

Kids for Wish Kids®: Brooke’s Bat Mitzvah

A bat mitzvah only happens once in a lifetime.  It is common for Jewish girls to receive many gifts for their special day, but one generous Portland girl has requested cash gifts to be donated in her honor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. 

Brooke Edelson is a 7th grader at Riverdale and learned about the magic a wish can bring for a child through her volunteer work with the National Charity League, where mother and daughter teams work on charitable projects together.  Brooke and her mom, Jill, have created scrap books for wish kids over the past year.  Her favorite scrap book was for a young girl whose wish was to swim with dolphins. In seeing the pictures of kids on their wish and turning those photos into a gift the families will cherish for a lifetime, Brooke has learned firsthand the power of a wish. 

She chose the Foundation to benefit from her bat mitzvah gifts because, as she put it, “if I were sick, I would want a wish, and I think it is really great what you do for these kids.” Brooke has already raised $2,000 and her bat mitzvah fund continues to grow. She is thrilled with its progress so far!