TV3 team up with Make-A-Wish Ireland to grant some special Christmas wishes!

For further information:

Sharon McHugh
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+3531 419 3430 / 087 922 4143
sharon.mchugh@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie

Ciara Byrne
+353 1 419 3329 / 087 3199732
ciara.byrne@tv3.ie

TV3 GROUP RELEASE                                                                               

IMMEDIATE: Thursday 12th December 2013

 

TV3 team up with Make-A-Wish Ireland to grant some special Christmas wishes!

 

This Christmas, TV3 is going to make sure some very special children have a Christmas to remember.

 

Teaming up with Make-A-Wish, Martin King and Karen Koster meet some very brave and inspiring children and help TV3 give something back.

 

Interviews available on request.

 

Ireland’s Christmas Wishes airs Wednesday 18th December at 9pm.

 

This Christmas Martin King and Karen Koster (with a little help from their friends) will make sure that some very special children have a Christmas to remember. TV3 have teamed up with Make-A-Wish to meet some children who have had a tough time of it, but prove that positivity and bravery can go a long way - and now it’s TV3’s turn to give them something back.

 

In this Christmas special we meet four children who are living with life-threatening medical conditions and deserve to have their Christmas made special. Martin and Karen visit 14-year-old Chloe from Louth, who dreams of transforming her bedroom into a shabby chic setting. We introduce George, 15 from Tipperary to his favourite Irish rugby players at Carton House and six-year-old Mark from Limerick gets to meet and work with Search and Rescue at the helicopter base in Shannon. We also meet 9-year-old Conor from Dublin, who along with his team mates, gets to train and play against some of the Dublin football team, including Bernard Brogan, Jack McCaffrey, Eoghan O’Gara,  and Alan Brogan.

 

Returning to work on the Christmas special, Martin King said that hearing the children’s stories really put things into perspective.

 

“Once again it was a joy to work on Ireland’s Christmas Wishes. For a short time, you step into people’s lives and bring a little bit of magic to them. The wonderful thing about granting a wish for a deserving child is seeing the rippling effect it has for the rest of the family. The joy you see them share gives reminds you of what Christmas is all about.”

 

A new addition to Christmas Wishes, Karen Koster was delighted to take part for such a good cause.

 

“Working in the entertainment and fashion bubble that Xposé can be, it was great to change gears and tackle a completely different project. I loved meeting the kids, and it was a privilege to be welcomed so warmly into each family’s home. I hope we’ve given them some memories that they’ll hold on to for a very long time.”

 

 

Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish Susan O’Dwyer said that Make-A-Wish is very grateful for the support of the public:

 

“We are delighted to be working with TV3 on this special 2013 Christmas Wishes programme to highlight the different types of wishes we have granted throughout the year.  Without the kind generosity of the public we would not be in a position to grant magical wishes on a continuing basis.”

 

Join TV3 on Wednesday 18th December at 9pm to see some truly deserving children, being surprised with their ultimate gifts, proving that Christmas Wishes really can come true!

 

Ireland’s Christmas Wishes airs Wednesday 18th December at 9pm.

 

ENDS

 

For further information
Ciara Byrne

Press Officer

01 419 3329

087 319 9732

 

Sharon McHugh
Head of Press & Publicity

087 922 4143

publicity@tv3.ie                        
www.tv3.ie

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NOTES TO EDITOR

 

Chloe Boyle

 

Fourteen-year-old Chloe from Louthis recovering from Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She shares a room with her sister and wish is to transform it into a shabby chic setting.

 

George Ryan

 

15-year-old George is living with a brain tumour. The sports crazy teenager lives with his family in Tipperary with his family and his wish is to meet his favourite Irish rugby players.

 

Mark Sheahan

 

Six-year-old Mark is living living with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Fascinated by the Rescue Helicopter that flies over his house in Limerick, Mark’s wish is to work with the Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter Service in Shannon.

 

Conor Tierney

 

Age 10 and living with Aplastic Anaemia, Conor is from Raheny in Dublin where he lives with his Mum, Dad and siblings Emma, Caoimhe and Michael. Conor loves all things football and his wish is to play football against the Dublin Team at Croke Park.

 

About Make-A-Wish

 

Since its inception in Ireland in 1992, Make-A-Wish in Ireland has granted wishes to over 1,500 children. In 2013, the organisation will grant 210 wishes which is a 60% increase on 2012. Make-A-Wish has already received almost 200 wishes on their waiting list for 2014 and depend on the generosity of the Irish public to help grant these wishes. Make-A-Wish do not receive any government funding and rely on your donations and support. Make-A-Wish Ireland is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish International which has a presence in over 37 countries around the world. Make-A-Wish Ireland’s mission is to grant wishes to children age 3-17 living with a life-threatening medical condition to enhance the human experience with hope, strength and joy. For further information, please visit: www.makeawish.ie