Wishing Wire April | Page 3

Our Volunteers A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT This month, we shine a spotlight on the Burnie Branch, and thank all of our amazing Burnie volunteers. Already in 2014, they have raised an incredible $50,000 to help grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. From tennis tournaments to swimming carnivals to sausage sizzles, Burnie has been involved in 10 separate events since January, all of which were a great success. Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers at the Burnie Branch who have contributed to this incredible effort! ■ VOLUNTEER PROFILE – PETER MADSON “A friend’s grandchild had leukaemia and didn’t want to get out of bed. His wish was for a puppy. They became inseparable. They played together until exhausted and crashed together to sleep. This wish changed his life. That’s what I think is a great wish granted.” Peter is a master of collection tins, and he offers some tips for great collection tin fundraising: • Ring local businesses and ask if you can leave a tin on their counter. • Main targets are all small cash change venues i.e. coffee shops, bakeries, newsagents and food shops where you always come out with small change. • Don’t give up too soon: I’ve been lucky to get one can in, out of every two or three attempts. In less than two years of volunteering with Make-A-Wish Albany Branch, Peter Madson has raised more than $50,000 for seriously-ill children. Tirelessly pounding pavements and rattling tins, Peter has already raised $11,000 this year alone – that’ over s a period of just three months! Peter loves volunteering for Make-A-Wish because of the connections it allows him to make with people. He says the impact of a wish can never be overstated: Volunteer Newsletter | Issue 2 2014 • Where possible, ask them if they