“Wishes are medicine,” they say at the Make-A-Wish Foundation and April 29 is World Wish Day.

The day celebrates the original wish of a 7-year-old boy named Chris with leukemia who wanted to be part of the Arizona Highway Patrol.

His mom and others came together with a few dollars “and said we’re gonna help,” starting to what is now a global nonprofit that has granted more than 500,000 wishes, said Kaylee LaClair, director of operations and strategy for Make-A-Wish in Montana and South Dakota.

Locally, kids have wished for shopping sprees at Walmart, Disney, swimming with dolphins, cruises and trips to Hawaii.

LaClair also volunteers as a wish-giver with her husband and together they make up half of the volunteers in Great Falls.

The organization is always fundraising as it costs, on average, about $10,000 to fulfill each wish, she said. Donated miles are a big help and once donated, they don’t expire.

Make-A-Wish is participating in Give Great Falls this week, with dozens of other local nonprofits.

In Great Falls, LaClair said the biggest need is wish-giving volunteers, who must be 18 and older. Volunteers meet with the kids and their families to discover their biggest wish and stay with them through the entire journey.

“It’s so rewarding and it really doesn’t take that much time,” LaClair said. “Getting to meet people and be the joy for them in a time that’s really intense for them.”

LaClair said she learned of Make-A-Wish while working at Disney during college and got involved in 2018.

Volunteering isn’t a huge time commitment, she said, and “you build a connection with somebody and that’s worthwhile time.”

You could be having the worst day, LaClair said, then you meet with the kids and their families and “hear them talk about wishes and dreams and hopes and you can’t have a bad day anymore. You leave feeling so happy.”

Kids aged two-and-a-half to 18 diagnosed with critical illnesses are eligible. It’s a misconception that they only serve children with cancer, she said.

Parents, family members with detailed knowledge of the child’s current condition, or medical professionals may refer children for a wish.

“The only limitation is a child’s imagination,” LaClair said. If a child wants to travel internationally, “we’re in.”

Last year, they granted 110 wishes across Montana and South Dakota, and are on track to grant more wishes this year, she said, with the goal of granting every eligible child’s wish.

Medical professionals are involved and often prescribe wishes as part of a treatment plan, she said, because “when anybody has hope, is excited about something, looking forward to something,” that’s helpful.

Make-A-Wish meets kids at all phases, whether it be during or after their treatment.

“We’re ready to meet them whenever they’re ready,” LaClair said.

The effort “takes a whole community,” and she said they’ve partnered with local businesses for parties and fundraisers and are working to raise greater awareness and involvement.

In the fall, students at C.M. Russell High School organized a wish week. This week, the Peak and Big Sky CoreSport are holding Workout for Wishes programs and PurpleGold is offering a specialty flavor, the WishMaker, this week, with $1 per each bowl sold going to Make-A-Wish. Veronica Candle Co. in Billings designed a special candle for the event.

Want to volunteer? Sign up here.