Make-A-Wish South Carolina today announced that wish kid Gunnar has been featured on ESPN's renowned "My Wish" series. The heartwarming segment premiered today, showcasing Gunnar's incredible journey and his heartfelt wish. You can watch the segment below.
Gunnar, an 11-year-old from Rock Hill, South Carolina who has cystic fibrosis, had his wish granted to meet his sports hero, Freddie Freeman of the LA Dodgers. ESPN cameras captured every moment of this unforgettable experience, from the initial surprise to the life-changing day when Gunnar met and played catch with Freddie Freeman before taking the mound at Dodgers Stadium to throw out the first pitch.
Katlyn Larrieu, Senior Wish Manager at Make-A-Wish South Carolina, shared her heartfelt thoughts on Gunnar's wish: "I've worked with Make-A-Wish South Carolina for over 10 years and love all the families I get to work with, but there are a few special ones that always stand out and that you just connect with. The Gonzales family is one of those for me. Having the opportunity to watch the pure shock and joy set in on Gunnar's face when he found out his wish was going to be coming true is a memory that I will never forget. They are such an incredibly supportive and loving family who deserve this experience so much."
Misty Farmer, CEO & President of Make-A-Wish South Carolina, added, "Gunnar's story is a powerful reminder of the impact a wish can have on a child's life. Our partnership with ESPN through the 'My Wish' series allows us to share these inspiring stories with a wider audience, highlighting the hope, strength, and joy that a wish brings to children and their families."
Since 2006, the ESPN “My Wish” series has shared the inspiring journeys of Make-A-Wish kids whose lives are forever changed when their wishes to meet their favorite sports heroes and teams come true. This year’s series will feature five wish kids, including Gunnar. The series, narrated by Emmy-award-winning reporter Chris Connelly, continues to showcase the resilience, strength, and optimism of these extraordinary children and their families.
“The power of the ‘My Wish’ series lies in the beautiful way that ESPN honors these wish kids and their families by letting them share their inspiring stories with viewers,” said Leslie Motter, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish America. “Once viewers hear what these families have dealt with and overcome, they can start to see the critical role a wish plays in restoring hope, joy, and a sense of normalcy to families.”
Make-A-Wish extends its thanks to Disney and ESPN for their support of the “My Wish” series as part of The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to delivering joy and comfort to children with critical illnesses and their families. Beyond assisting with this year’s series, Disney – which owns ESPN – has been a steadfast friend of Make-A-Wish for 44 years and has helped the organization grant more than 155,000 Disney-related wishes, including the very first official wish.
Gunnar's feature video can be viewed at wish.org/mywish or below:
