The Children’s Wish Foundation — a Canadian organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses between the ages of three and 17 — has recently reached a milestone.
The foundation has granted 25,000 wishes, an achievement, Juli Meilleur from the Children’s Wish Foundation, says is something to be proud of.
“It is a privilege for us to have reached this great milestone,” she said, adding the wish was granted to Jayden, a former basketball player from Alberta, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
“His wish was to create a pair of sneakers inspired by his idol LeBron James, also called King James,” Meilleur said.
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The foundation’s team got to work and as Meilleur said, “made it happen,” presenting Jayden with a shoe of his design.
“He was at the hospital and he walked through the corridor to show his shoes to all the people at the hospital,” Meilleur said.
“He laced them up and he walked for the first time in weeks.”
Jayden, sadly passed away last November, but his memory lives on.
“Our team was really inspired and touched by the fire within him so we decided to bring this project a step further,” Meilleur said. “We created a clothing line called King Jay.”
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There are 25,000 pieces in the King Jay line, ranging from hoodies, to T-shirts and even onesies for babies, with each article of clothing representing a granted wish.
“All shirts are printed with a shoelace in front and when we stand next to each other, it shows that we are connected, we are united to fight and be part of King Jay’s kingdom,” Meilleur said.
All proceeds from the apparel line will go back to the Children’s Wish Foundation, to help grant the next 25,000 wishes.
In Quebec alone, the foundation grants more than 300 wishes a year.
For more information, visit the Children’s Wish Foundation website or the King Jay website.