Why We Support Make-A-Wish with the BN Blogathon

We are a few weeks into raising funds for Make-A-Wish, and you’ve already pushed us to nearly the three-quarter mark! A reminder that I’m offering to blog for 40 straight hours – NO SLEEP –  at the MLB Trade Deadline if we can raise $8,000 to support the incredible work that Make-A-Wish does for kids and families who really need it. Please go here to donate! Thank you for doing good!

Through your efforts over past Blogathons, you’ve raised more than $124,000 for Make-A-Wish to transform your passion for baseball into some real, impactful good in this world. To that end, I wanted to share some of that good, with a story involving a Wish kiddo and the Chicago Cubs. From Make-A-Wish Illinois:

Austin, 10, is dealing with a nervous system disorder, and his wish day was everything he had hoped for and more! He and his family started out the day like true celebrities – with a limo ride to Wrigley Field. Once inside, Austin’s VIP treatment continued as he got to hang out in the Cubbies dugout with the one and only, Anthony Rizzo! The joy that Austin felt was evident by the grin that never seemed to leave his face. He and his family had a blast taking in the game at Wrigley and wrapped it up with a limo ride back to the hotel, but not before stopping at Maggiano’s for dinner! The day was the perfect reset Austin and his family so desperately needed. Austin’s mother, Jennifer, explained, “He has had 2 brain surgeries in the last 10 months, has had lots of tests, seizure issues, etc. So this wish was something to look forward to that other kids don’t get to do. He’s used to being different but not in a way that makes him happy so this was a nice change. He loves Anthony Rizzo and was beyond excited about meeting him!”

This is why we support Make-A-Wish, and why I appreciate so much that you help make the Blogathon work. These moments – these memories – that the kids and their families get to experience make for real joy, real memories, and real respite from anything else they might have going on. It matters. Thank you!

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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