Summary
American actor and WWE superstar John Cena has set a new Guinness World Record, granting 650 wishes for sick children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Story
Make-A-Wish Foundation International creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, and has become the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Children between the age of 2 and 18can choose to meet a celebrity, go to an event, or give a gift to someone else.
Nobody had ever granted more than 200 wishes in the 42-year existence of Make-A-Wish. Reaching 650 wishes, John Cena has become the most wished-for celebrity, and honored as the man who has fulfilled the most wishes. Having held the WWE Championship 13 separate times, he usually brings one of his championship belts along, and often lets the kids try it on, much to their delight.
This champion never hesitates to fulfil another child’s wish: “If you ever need me for this ever, I don’t care what I’m doing, I will drop what I’m doing and be involved because I think that’s the coolest thing.”
Cena began his career in professional wrestling back in 1999,and is a 16-time world champion in WWE. The face for WWE’s “Be a Star” anti-bullying campaign, he has become one of the most popular athletes of all time.
“If you ever need me for this ever, I don’t care what I’m doing, I will drop what I’m doing and be involved because I think that’s the coolest thing.”
Make-A-Wish UK recently partnered with Aston University to understand the experience and impact of wishes on children with life-threatening illnesses, as well as their families. They identified several tangible improvements in the family’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life:
- Wishes lead to increased joy and happiness for children, parents and siblings. This was achieved through excitement and anticipation during build up to the wish, by wishes exceeding expectations and by facilitating an environment where the child felt special.
- Wish families described increased resilience and coping. This was demonstrated through post wish reports of increased confidence and self-esteem in children, as well as parents, leading to them feeling better equipped to overcome adverse events in the future.
- Wishes opened up horizons for young people and their families. That is, family’s beliefs about what they could achieve within their life broadened post-wish, enabling them to aspire to more, engage in activities they had previously considered not possible, and generally to live fuller lives.
- Wishes provided a welcome distraction from the child’s illness and treatment, and also motivated young people to engage with their treatment. For parents, wishes further provided respite from worry about their child’s condition.
- Wishes also facilitated a sense of family togetherness and normalcy. Some parents described reassessing their own priorities and making lifestyle changes following a wish.
We can all be wish-granting heroes in our daily actions, and brighten the lives of those around us.
A version of this story was originally published by the Good News Network.