SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -Santa Claus spent Sunday at Hogle Zoo bringing cheer to Utah children with life threatening medical conditions. The visit was sponsored by the Make a Wish Foundation. The magical visit could lead to more wishes being granted all year long.
The visit from the Jolly Old Elf was heralded with holiday music, Christmas cookies, and hot cocoa. The guests of honor were children who have fought for their lives after being diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions. Jake Ballamis says it’s been a tough couple of years for his youngest son. “Chris was diagnosed with cancer in ’08 and has had a long struggle with that.”
Crystal Webb says the Santa party at the zoo adds joy to a life that has known too much pain. "This is really fun we are excited. He’s been through so much and it's fun to have Make a Wish make it a little special for them."
The Make a Wish Foundation of Utah grants wishes year-round for children with life threatening illnesses. But Sunday the wish recipients were making a different kind of wish list; the kind that only Santa can answer. Perrin Ballamis has just one Christmas wish this year. "All I wanted was to see Rudolph."
Cache Clark has something a little less mystical in mind. A far away Potato Bowl. "That I could go to the Idaho bowl game."
The patient Santa listened carefully to requests. He has heard a lot of them in his 26 city tour of America. His journey began on Thanksgiving Day in the Macy’s Parade. "Many of the traditional things like dolls, and baseball bats, but also they are asking about electronic gadgets and game systems and a variety of things."
He's asking children, young and old, everywhere to write down their Christmas list this year and drop it in a mailbox at their local Macys store. "There's a big, bright red letter box, and as they put that letter in the mail box, then Macys will donate one dollar for each letter that is received."
The retailer will donate up to a million dollars to Make a Wish for those letters to the North Pole. Krachel Greenwood from Make a Wish says it proves wishes do come true. “We are choosing to believe ion the spirit of Christmas.”
The make a wish foundation of Utah grants about 160 wishes every year. Children with life threatening medical conditions ask for anything from playgrounds in their backyards to trips to Disneyworld. They are granted those wishes by volunteers, using community donations.
