RENO, NEV – (Sept. 2, 2025) – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, honoring young cancer fighters and survivors, and inspiring action in the battle against pediatric cancer. This month, Make-A-Wish® Nevada is spotlighting the life-changing impact of a wish fulfilled for children battling cancer, bringing optimism and joy when it’s needed most.
“Cancer changes everything for a child and their family,” said Lou Borrego, Make-A-Wish Nevada Board Member who resides in Reno. “Granting a wish isn’t just about creating a happy memory – it’s about restoring hope and giving children the confidence to imagine a future beyond cancer.”
From dream vacations to once-in-a-lifetime adventures like Reno’s Joseph Esquibel’s Alaska escapade, Carson City’s Levi Marchus’ dream to be a zoologist or Talia Crow’s wish to meet Luke Bryan, over the last 24 months Make-A-Wish Nevada has granted more than 20 wishes for children and teens in Northern Nevada experiencing the rigors of cancer treatments and its aftermaths.
“From wish kids in Gardnerville and Fernley to Sparks and Winnemucca, and all across Nevada, each wish – whether it’s a quinceañera, shopping spree or getting a gaming PC – is carefully designed to reflect the child’s passions and bring joy at a time when it’s needed most,” said Borrego.
Every year, thousands of children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. Research shows that a wish can provide hope, strength and joy offering children and their families a much-needed reprieve during treatment. For many, the experience becomes a turning point, helping them feel stronger, more optimistic and ready to keep fighting.
According to the American Association for Cancer Research, the five-year survival rate for pediatric cancer has improved, increasing from 58-68% in the 1970s to 83-88% in recent years. Yet, 1,600 children and adolescents in the United States die of cancer each year. Among the most common types of cancers in children are acute lymphocytic leukemia, brain and other central nervous system tumors, lymphoma and neuroblastoma.
How You Can Help:
- Donate: Your gift can help grant more wishes for children with cancer.
- Volunteer: Be part of the wish journey by offering your time and talents.
- Spread the Word: Share stories of hope using #childhoodcancerawareness and #makeawishnevada
“Together, we can ensure that no child with cancer waits for the hope a wish can bring,” added Borrego.
For more information or to donate, visit Make-A-Wish Nevada. Make-A-Wish Nevada also makes it easy for those referring a critically ill child for a wish offering an online form requesting basic medical and personal information at www.wish.org/refer-a-child.
About Make-A-Wish Nevada
Make-A-Wish® Nevada creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, empowering them with hope and strength. Established in 1982, Make-A-Wish® Nevada was originally split into Northern and Southern Nevada in 1996 but reunified as one chapter in 2024 to better serve the entire state. Over the years, more than 2,800 wishes have been granted to children across Nevada. Supported by generous donors, volunteers, and community partners, Make-A-Wish® Nevada is part of a national network that has collectively granted more than 390,000 wishes through its 57 chapters across the U.S. For more information, visit wish.org/nv
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Media Contact:
Melissa Warren, The Warren Group: melissa@twgpr.com; 702-528-6016
