Concord Junior High School helps raise money for Make-A-Wish children in the community

ELKHART, Ind. -- Students at Concord Junior High School are helping to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The foundation is well known for granting wishes for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Students have been raising money for the foundation since 1995 and have raised close to four hundred thousand dollars in total.

The principal at Concord Junior High said it’s a great way to get students involved in the community.

"It's just a great life skill for them, to just be able to give of themselves to help others. Not many of them may have the opportunity to do that and this gives them that chance, that feeling of helping others by bringing hope to someone or a family in need," said Rob Zook, the Concord Junior High School Principal.

The money will be raised during the following events:

  • Walk for Wishes: 2-2:30 p.m. Friday, March 8
  • Family Night: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 16
  • 5K Run/1M Fun Run: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 23

"That's what Make-A-Wish I think is about, it's about giving somebody hope…and hope and people that offer love and faith, they do this for people and that's why this organization here at Concord Junior High School doing this is fantastic. It's unbelievable what these young people are being taught," said Joe Varga, parent of a Make-A-Wish child.

Concord Junior High is working to help three local children during those events.

Hailey, 17, from Mishawaka, had a liver transplant and wishes to go to Disneyland Park in California.

Liam, 3, of South Bend, has Intractable Epilepsy and wants to visit to Walt Disney World in Florida.

Zephan, 4, of Elkhart, has Cerebral Palsy and Congenital CMV. He wants a service dog to alert his family of seizures.

"Makes me feel happy for the kids that get to experience the wishes and how they get to get away from their sickness for a little while," said eighth grader Macie Swinehart.

The events will kick off on Friday and will end with a closing ceremony on Friday, March 29.

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