Nicky Hambleton-Jones make-over marks charity milestone
News release and photo for immediate use
Wednesday 12 September 2012
On 30 August 2012, Make--A-Wish Foundation® UK, the charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions, granted its 8000th wish to 15 year old Mischka Richards who was diagnosed with cancer last December. After losing her hair, and her confidence, Mischka decided that she wanted her wish to be a confidence-boosting make-over day with Nicky Hambleton-Jones. Mischka said: “I would love to get my self-esteem back”…
Mischka immediately started chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma but in March she had to have a resection to remove the tumour in her leg. This resulted in her losing her knee, some of the bone above it and all the bone below it, which has subsequently caused scarring, making Mischka very self-conscious. On top of this Mischka had started being bullied by her ‘friends’, which included comments about the change in her appearance. Mum Jane said: “Finding out that all the friends she thought she had weren’t her friends was very tough for Mischka and she just wanted something to make her feel good about herself again.”
Mischka, who is from Marlborough, chose to be styled by Nicky after watching an episode of 10 Years Younger in hospital. On the morning of her wish she went to have a wig fitted at Trendco before heading to Knightsbridge to meet Nicky at Harvey Nichols. Mischka spent the day trying on clothes that Nicky had hand-picked for her. She then went to have her nails done before being made-over at the Bare Minerals counter ready for the big reveal. Jane said: “When Mischka saw the final outfit all she could say was ‘oh my God’! She had a natural glow that no amount of make-up could put on. I was just thrilled that the old Mischka was back.
“We’re so grateful to Make-A-Wish for granting her wish, she had such a fabulous time. It was so much more than we imagined and was wonderful to see the look on her face. The wish came at the right time for her and gave her that boost of confidence that she desperately needed.”
Nicky said: “It was an honour to be part of such an important milestone for Make-A-Wish by helping to grant their 8000th wish and an absolute pleasure to make-over Mischka who is a very brave and beautiful young lady.”
There are currently 20,000 children and young people in theUKfighting a life-threatening condition and this year alone 1,400 children will turn to Make-A-Wish to have their wish granted. The charity needs to raise £6.8 million in 2012 and receives no government funding or lottery grants – so every donation really does count.
To make a donation to Make-A-Wish please visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk or telephone 01276 40 50 60.
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For more information about this news release please contact:
Hayley Epps: T: 01276 405093 M: 07557563214 E: hayley.epps@makeawish.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. More photos available if required and the family are available for interview. Neil Jones, Chief Executive at Make-A-Wish and Joanne Micklewright, Head of Wishgranting at Make-A-Wish are also available for interview.
2. A short clip of Mischka’s wish is available to view here.
3. Please note that Make-A-Wish does not use phrases such as ‘terminally ill’ in order to respect the sensitive nature of life-threatening conditions and what they mean to children and young people and their families. We would ask that this approach is followed and that the term ‘life-threatening conditions’ is used in material for publication.
4. Make-A-Wish should be referred to as Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK in the first instance. Thereafter ‘Make-A-Wish’ or ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ is suitable. We would ask that you try to keep ‘Make-A-Wish’ on the same line.
5. Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. The charity was founded in the UK in 1986. Registered charity number: 295672/SC037479 www.make-a-wish.org.uk.
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