VIDEO: Dying boy’s wish granted as he becomes a magician for the day

Six-year-old Charlie stars in charity Make-A-Wish’s emotional Christmas campaign. His mum Amanda bravely shares their story…

When six-year-old Charlie was told he’d be granted a wish, he knew exactly what he wanted: to be a magician for the day. Little Charlie has medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer In September, his parents made the heartbreaking decision to stop treatment.

And so for Charlie, who lives in Derbyshire with his mum, dad and little brother, this Christmas might be his last. His mum Amanda says: “To know we just have months left with Charlie is unimaginable. There aren’t really any words to describe how it feels to know we’ll be saying goodbye. But we’re making every day count, making memories that we’ll remember forever to celebrate our beautiful boy.”

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One of Charlie’s biggest loves is magic, and he gets excited about having a secret skill he can show to others. So, when he learned he could have a wish, Charlie wished “to be a magician” and thanks to wishgranting charity Make-A-Wish UK, who grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, his dream came true.

When the special day arrived, alongside a local magician, Charlie dazzled his audience in a special magic show filled with amazement. His face lit up with joy as he performed close-up magic for friends and family, creating memories that will last forever. Amanda says: “Charlie and his younger brother have spoken about the magic show every day since. Being able to give him that opportunity to be a magician himself and just seeing him smile and laugh was so comforting.

“We couldn’t have granted his wish without Make-A-Wish UK and those that support it. It’s such a special charity for children like Charlie, being able to see him excited and enjoying himself before everything declines. We can’t thank everyone enough who played a part in making Charlie’s wish come true.”

Hoping to help more children like Charlie, Make-A-Wish UK has launched a new fundraising campaign themed around helping critically ill children believe in magic again this Christmas, to help raise funds and grant more life-changing wishes to critically ill children, sooner. CEO, Jason Suckley, says: Critical illness brings the joy of childhood to an abrupt end but Make-A-Wish UK is part of a global movement that grants life-changing wishes that have the power to rescue the magic of childhood.

“We are granting a record number of over 1,000 wishes each year, yet we face a serious challenge. The demand for wishes is far outpacing our best efforts to keep up. But with the public’s help we can change this. This Christmas, we estimate around 1,000 children will be diagnosed with a life-changing illness that makes them in line for a wish.

For some families, like Charlie’s, they could be facing Christmas together with a child who doesn’t have long left. For other families with a critically ill child, this Christmas will bring similar challenges – a time filled with uncertainty, worry, and a sense of lost magic as they wait and hope for their child’s special wish to come true.

This Christmas, that’s why wishes matter. For a child living with a critical illness, everyday life can be a struggle with dreams or the chance to create magical memories out of reach. But a wish can turn impossible dreams into reality, offering escape, joy, and giving families precious memories to hold onto. A wish gives a child the chance to believe, to hope, and to dream big again.”

Right now, more children than ever are waiting for their wish, with a child diagnosed with a critical illness every hour in the UK. For too many, Christmas will come and go without the magic they deserve – and for some children, the chance to believe in magic again may never come. All families deserve the chance to create magical memories together.

*Will you help a critically ill child believe in magic again this Christmas? Donate now at Make A Wish