Terrific Thomas Land wish for Jacob
News release and photo for immediate use
Wednesday 4 July 2012
When Jacob Owen was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at just 18 months old he was given a 20% chance of surviving. Now four, his family decided he deserved an extra special day and so they got in touch with Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, the charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions, which granted his wish to go to Thomas Land…
Jacob, who is from Bristol, has always loved Thomas the Tank Engine but during treatment, when he was in isolation and toys had to be wipe-clean, his Mum, Maxine, described the plastic toy Thomas the Tank Engine trains as invaluable. On the day of his wish, Jacob got to experience the magic of Thomas Land, the special theme park near Tamworth devoted to Thomas and all his friends, as well as meet The Fat Controller – something he had specifically requested.
Before being diagnosed in October 2009, Jacob had stopped eating and wasn’t walking. After several trips to the doctors, he was referred to the hospital for tests. It was after an ultrasound that the family were told Jacob had cancer. Maxine described the news as “a complete bombshell”. Since being diagnosed Jacob has had chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Maxine said: “It sounds strange but I found myself grieving for the ‘normal’ and ‘mundane’ life he may never have.”
She went on to say: “Jacob’s wish meant absolutely everything. He has coped so well and it was great to see him enjoying his wish. We got so used to everything being about Jacob when he was in hospital, but it was about him for the wrong reasons – this was about him for the right reasons.”
There are currently 20,000 children and young people in the UK fighting 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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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