How our colleague volunteers, including Sarah who authored this diary, helped critically ill children experience their dreams in collaboration with Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK and Disney.

Back in early May, three CitySprint colleagues had the chance to be part of something truly special – volunteering at Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK's "A Disney Wish" experience. John, Sarah, and Natasha had a blast during this experience, with each team member recording their adventures in diary-style entries. Over to Sarah to offer us a glimpse into the inspiring work of everyone involved, and the amazing time the attending families shared.

“When I woke up on Saturday, a wave of excitement washed over me - I knew I was about to be part of something truly magical for so many children and their families. The weather was perfect, and I was eager to put my newly learned Makaton skills into action.

Upon arriving at the stunning Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire, I joined the rest of the wonderful volunteer team. We were each given a Disney polo shirt and the cutest Mickey ears to wear, setting the tone for the enchanting weekend ahead. After a warm welcome and a tour of the activity areas, we received our rotas and got ready to begin.

Following a quick cuppa, we headed off to our first activity. Mine was the Enchanted Forest, where the magic truly began. I had the joy of greeting families as they arrived.

Before reaching us, families were welcomed by the car park volunteers, who greeted them with huge smiles and oversized Mickey hands. Their cheerful energy was infectious, and you could see the excitement building as families made their way toward the forest.

I’ll admit, I felt a little nervous at first. But the moment I saw the children’s beaming faces and felt their excitement, my nerves melted away. I remember thinking how privileged I was to be part of such a special experience.

In the Enchanted Forest, the children listened to a magical story, had a family photo taken, and received a lanyard with three Disney pins. The excitement was contagious when they learned they could trade pins with any grown-up wearing ones they liked! I absolutely loved engaging with the children during pin swaps; their joy upon spotting a pin they wanted was priceless. Communicating through Makaton added an extra layer of connection, and the look of surprise and appreciation from the children and their families was truly heart-warming.

Afterwards, families met with the Disney team to check into their rooms and review their personalised activity schedules, all conveniently available through a dedicated app. They then picked up a complimentary water bottle before heading to their rooms - or diving straight into the fun.

I could go into detail about all the activities I was involved in over the two days; however, I’ll simply say this: volunteering at the ‘A Disney Wish' event was an incredible and deeply rewarding experience. Being part of something that brings so much joy to children and their families was an honour. The dedication and care that go into creating these unforgettable moments are truly inspiring, and I feel privileged to have contributed in some small way.

It was also incredibly moving to witness so many smiles in one place - the atmosphere was nothing short of magical.

It’s an experience I’ll always treasure.”

A huge thank you to both Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK and Disney for allowing our colleagues to volunteer their time in such a meaningful way, as well as providing a much-needed escape for the children and families going through such tough times. 

If you can afford to donate, you can do so using this link: https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/.

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