Make-A-Wish
By SQNLDR Steve Hancock
The April/May 2008 edition of the Air Force News contained an article on how successful the Ohakea Open Day 2008 had been with over 30,000 people turning up the numbers speak for themselves.
WGCDR Russell Mardon hands the cheque over to George. (OH-08-0283-01).
What could not be included in the article as it went to print was the financial success of the event, which has led to the Air Force Museum, the Ohakea Visitor Centre Trust and Make-A-Wish New Zealand being beneficiaries of the funds raised during the day. Base Ohakea personnel have a close association with Make-A-Wish New Zealand and have previously made donations to it from Physical Education and Recreational Training (PE&RT) Flight organised events and the Maintenance Support Squadron (MSS) relay from Auckland to Ohakea, which was featured in the February 08 edition of the Air Force News. It was therefore with great pleasure that WGCDR Russell Mardon (COOSW OH) presented Make-A-Wish with a cheque on Thursday 1 May for $6695.83, being their share raised during the Open Day. The cheque was accepted on behalf of Make-A-Wish New Zealand by a young lad from Palmerston North named George, who had just been flown into the Pascal Street Arena to receive the granting of a wish, this being a trip for him and his family to Australia. Also on hand were W/O Robbo Robertson and SGT Ian Richards who presented Fay Pedley from Make-A-Wish with a signed t-shirt and banner on behalf of the MSS relay runners. Fay expressed her gratitude to the support that Ohakea personnel have given Make-A-Wish, which has enabled local childrens’ wishes to come true.