Heritage High School club makes 6-year-old's wish come true

From left: Kristy Wakeman, advisor of the Heritage High Make-A-Wish Club; Grant Bennett, PUHSD superintendent; Vincent Vanderpool, club president-elect; Dayra Leal, club president; Frank Arce, Heritage High School principal; Adam Contreras, co-advisor. Photos courtesy of Dayra Leal.

A student-run Make-A-Wish club at Heritage High School recently raised funds to send a seriously ill 6-year-old Perris girl and her family to Disneyland.

The club, which is only about two years old, is dedicated to making wishes come true for children with life-threatening conditions, following the guidelines of the national Make-A-Wish Foundation. The wish granted to Camila (left) was the first wish granted by the club, which is less than $1,300 away from having the funds to grant its second wish. In two years, the club has raised more than $7,500.

Dayra Leal, president of the club, said club members contacted local Make-A-Wish officials after raising sufficient funds and was put in contact with Camila, who was diagnosed in 2015 with a Wilms Tumor, a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys.

Camila's wish was to visit Disneyland to see the Disney princesses she loves to watch and read about. She was able to meet several princesses during her trip, including Princess Elena of Avalor, her favorite princess.

Club members and advisors were recognized by Make-A-Wish officials for their efforts in a recent visit to Heritage High School.