Make-A-Wish for adult cancer victims?

March 2, 2010 11:56 AM

Is there an organization like Make-A-Wish that serves adult cancer patients? Or even adult cancer patients with kids?

A coworker was just diagnosed as being terminal. He had gone in for surgery to remove a tumor, but the surgeons discovered the cancer had spread too far to remove. He has a wife and daughter, and we would like to find a way for them to go to DisneyWorld as a family one last time.

It appears that most organizations like Make-A-Wish cater to terminally ill children only, not adults. I am hoping someone can point us to an organization that could help in this situation. Does Disney have any special programs? do airlines?

Thank you for any help you can give.

posted by mrgoldenbrown to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

The patient should ask the social worker or support person at his hospital. When my daughter was going through cancer, our social worker explained that there are myriad individual small cancer charities with different focuses. Our social worker helped us determine if any provided for needs we had and, if so, whether and how to apply for aid.

Also, can you consider some ad hoc fundraising locally? I follow cancer news pretty regularly for the particular very rare diagnosis my daughter fought, and I get news of many families where someone plans a beef and beer, or a benefit show, or a pancake breakfast to raise some money.
posted by bunnycup at 12:05 PM on March 2, 2010

Response by poster: So far I have found this list, which includes a few programs that include adults.

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/general/wish-grant-orgs.html
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 12:05 PM on March 2, 2010

This article led me to The Granted Wish Foundation.
posted by cider at 12:10 PM on March 2, 2010

Maybe if you get together with your coworkers to raise some $$ for transportation, Disney World may have a charitable reduced-or-free admission program, or be willing to help on a case-by-case basis. Maybe not, but it couldn't hurt to ask, especially if you have some kind of way of demonstrating that you're not just some guy trying to get free admission for your own family and/or you have your own fund-raising effort underway.
posted by amtho at 12:13 PM on March 2, 2010

Here's another one:

Dream Foundation

This is very kind of you.
posted by cider at 12:14 PM on March 2, 2010

Many life insurance policies contain a provision which allows the insured to withdraw up to 50% of the policy value when diagnosed with a terminal illness. It's a bit of robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul, but it's something to look in to.
posted by Coffeemate at 10:15 AM on March 3, 2010