There are quite a few days in my life that I'll never forget, but one, in particular, stands out.  It was Christmastime in 1998 and I was living in Albany and participated in a program to help raise money for Make a Wish.  The Make a Wish child for my area that year was a young man named Daniel.  I can't remember what kind of illness Daniel had or what his wish was, but I'll never forget the smile that stretched from ear to ear as we told him how much money we'd been able to raise for Make a Wish.  Daniel was so humbled as was I because there was a kid who was so moved by what we were able to raise and was more concerned about other kids having the chance to have a wish than he was concerned about his own self.

Almost 5 years after the day I met Daniel, I ran into him at a bowling alley. I didn't recognize him because the person standing in front of me was a healthy teen! Daniel remembered me and told me he was healthy and in remission and working as hard as he could to help get the word out about Make a Wish.  Daniel said he believed having his wish come true (and I so wish I could remember what it was!) gave him strength and courage and fight to live.

Did you know that the average cost to make a kid's wish come true through with Make a Wish is $9,000?  That's crazy expensive!  And do you know how many sick kids are on the Make a Wish waiting list?  I'm not going to tell you because the number will make you cry.  I think it's time that we, as a community, step up and help make some wishes come true.  Maybe you don't have money to give, but do you have cans and bottles?  That's a start!

Harford Glen Water is holding a drive to raise funds for Make a Wish of Central New York (so the money goes to making the wishes of local kids come true!) from tomorrow, December 1st until December 17th.

They’ll be collecting returnable bottles and cans as well as collecting pennies.  If you’d like to help out, please email Dan Correll at Daniel.correll@verizon.net or call him at 607-844-8351.

Don’t forget- the average cost to make a kid’s dream come true is $9,000 and you don’t even want to know how many kids are waiting on the list.  Every can, every bottle, every penny helps.

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