Make-A-Wish Ireland announces Wish Week 2025 with new sponsor its4women

Make-A-Wish® Ireland has welcomed back Wish Week as the campaign receives a significant boost with its new sponsor, its4women.

Running until Friday, Wish Week is a nationwide initiative that highlights the power of wishes, bringing together individuals, businesses and communities to grant life-changing experiences to children battling serious illnesses. This year the charity is placing even greater emphasis on community-led fundraising, with supermarket and on-street bucket collections taking place across the country.

As Make-A-Wish Ireland operates without government funding, public donations and corporate sponsorships are vital to its mission. The charity has also expressed deep gratitude to its4women for joining as a key supporter this year, helping to ensure the success of its national fundraising efforts.

Each year, approximately 650 children in Ireland are diagnosed with life-threatening conditions. However, only 33% of these children apply for a wish, leaving many without the transformative experience Make-A-Wish provides. Many families are unaware their child qualifies, while others hesitate to apply, believing other children may be ‘more deserving.’ These misconceptions prevent hundreds of children from receiving a wish that could bring hope, strength and joy during challenging times.

“The psychological and medical benefits of wish-granting are backed by research, and we hear daily how wishes can reduce stress, improve emotional well-being and even aid medical recovery,” says Susan McQuaid-O’Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland. “Wish Week is a crucial fundraising event for Make-A-Wish Ireland, helping us reach more children who are facing unimaginable challenges. We are thrilled to be working with its4women this year, making it possible to increase bucket collections and engage local communities in this vital campaign. Every donation brings us closer to granting more magical wishes, and we urge the public to support our volunteers and donate generously.”

Meanwhile, Kerry Beckett, Marketing Manager of its4women has shared her enthusiasm for the partnership and hopes people across the country will get involved.

“At its4women, we believe in supporting causes that truly make a difference in people’s lives, and we are honoured to be the sponsor of Wish Week 2025,” she explains. “The work that Make-A-Wish does is life-changing, not only for the children who receive wishes but for their families and communities as well. We encourage everyone to give what they can during this special week and help bring joy to children who need it most.”

You can join in on Wish Week by supporting Make-A-Wish volunteers in blue at supermarket and street collections, donating online at www.makeawish.ie, or contributing via Revolut on Friday, April 4th – Wish Week’s official donation day. Meanwhile, you can also help by spreading the word on social media using #WishWeek2025.