In 1985 the Make a Wish Foundation of Australia officially opened in Melbourne. News of its good deeds spread rapidly and soon volunteer branches formed in cities and regional areas across the nation as people from all walks of life joined together to help make dreams come true in their communities.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has become the world's largest wish-granting organisation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation can be found in more than 30 countries on 5 continents. Since its inception in 1980 the Foundation has granted more than 144,000 wishes around the world.

The Make a Wish Foundation aims to give all Australians the power to share a wish by bringing magic and joy to children with life-threatening diseases and granting their wishes.

The first Australian Wish granted was that of sixteen-year-old Shawn Cleland of Footscray, Melbourne, who requested to see his favourite football team in action and meet the players- a wish that has been granted several times since then to over twenty diseased football fans. But Shawn had never flown in a plane, so for his extra special wish, the Make a Wish Foundation flew him to Sydney to watch the Bulldogs play the Swans.

Help other children's wishes come true before its too late- for more information visit the website: http://www.makeawish.org.au