Wakefield teenager helping to grant wishes of poorly children

Joshua Lindley, 14, has been named as one of ten young people aged 13 to 20, joining STARboard – a youth-led UK advisory board of children’s charity Make-A Wish.

Make-A-Wish, whose aspiration is to become a child-led organisation by 2021, grants wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions, and Joshua had his wish granted last Christmas to meet Santa Claus and fly on an aeroplane.

Joshua, who has a blood disease and movement disorder, will represent the region hoping to become an inspirational ambassador for Make-A-Wish and to help give other wish children the best possible experience.

He was selected to represent the Yorkshire and Humber region on STARboard following a two-step application and interview process.

Joshua said: “As a STARboard member I would like to make sure every child has a wish experience that was as fantastic as mine. I will listen to the voices of the wish children and ensure that STARboard is inclusive and accessible.”

Make-A-Wish chief executive, Jason Suckley, said: “Every day, the lives of 15 families in the UK are changed forever when their child is diagnosed with a serious illness. Medical appointments become the utmost priority with the innocence of childhood and simple family pleasures taking a backseat.”

Visit make-a-wish.org.uk to find out more about the charity and what it does.