Erica Lei’s wish to be a Fashion Designer Comes True MAKE-A-WISH® PHILIPPINES Grants its 1000th Wish

Erica Lei dela Cruz, from Abra up North of the Philippines, celebrated her thirteenth birthday on September 9 and like every young girl, she has wishes and dreams.   Her most ardent wish is to be a fashion designer.  However, hers is not a normal childhood.   Abandoned by her mother and cared for by her kind relatives, she has made it to graduate from elementary school.   Unfortunately, last year Erica had to undergo a triple brain surgery.  Diagnosed with brain tumor Medulloblastoma, she was affected by one of the most common malignant (cancerous) central nervous system tumors in children.  It affects 1 in 5 (20%) children worldwide. Medulloblastomas are tumors located in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and other complex motor functions.  Surely, hers is a telenovela in the making but all is not lost for Erica for kindness abounds in her fellow Filipinos. 

On her birthday, Erica realized her greatest dream. Thanks to Make-A-Wish® Foundation Philippines, she was given a week to work on her own creations and watch them come to life full monty (fashion shoots, models and paparazzi).  Together, she and renowned fashion designer Rajo Laurel planned her original designs which the House of Laurel helped to create.  Like the world of fashion, a team of professionals from the industry produced a fashion shoot with her and her creations.   Erica showed off her design to volunteers, benefactors and friends at her birthday party put together by the foundation at The Peninsula Manila’s Salon de Ning. It was a happy celebration indeed for Erica’s 13thbirthday and will be one of her most memorable.  

Make-A-Wish® Philippines is an organization run by volunteers.  This wish granting activity was made possible with planning from numerous volunteers and extra help from model and wish-granter Teresa Herrera, Rajo Laurel, photographer Sara Black, and other generous sponsors such as Metrobank Foundation, Metrobank Credit Card Corporation, The Peninsula Manila and Metro Magazine.

Make-A-Wish® Philippines provides children with life threatening illnesses hope for better times and happiness that each child deserves by granting their most ardent wish.   Erica is the lucky recipient of the 1000th wishgrant by Make-A-Wish® Philippines which makes wishes come true for children who have life threatening diseases to infuse hope, strength, and joy in their lives.