For 36th year in a row, Make-A-Wish® will send kids with critical illnesses to the Super Bowl

More than 200 wish kids have attended the Super Bowl since 1982

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Jan 24, 2018, 10:00 ET

PHOENIX, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish^® is bringing its own team of 14 kids with critical illnesses to Minneapolis for their wish to attend Super Bowl LII. These life-changing wishes are only possible thanks to volunteers and generous donations from supporters, like the National Football League (NFL).

The wish kids, who hail from eight states and Canada, will arrive in Minneapolis on Thursday, Feb. 1. The experience begins with a VIP reception at Dave & Buster's – a national sponsor of Make-A-Wish – to welcome the wish kids and their families to the Twin Cities. The rest of the weekend includes a visit to Super Bowl Experience, a private stadium tour and opportunities to meet former NFL players, culminating in tickets to watch the NFC Champion and AFC Champion face off at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 4.

"When a child is diagnosed with a critical illness, a family's life gets turned upside down and everything else often takes a backseat to doctor's visits and uncomfortable medical treatments," said David Williams, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. "The wish kids who attend Super Bowl LII will have the chance to regain the confidence, hope and strength that their illness may have taken from them."

This year marks the 36^th consecutive year that a wish kid will be present at the Super Bowl. Never before in the 36-year history of wish granting at the Super Bowl has the power of these wish experiences been better understood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. A wish-come-true not only makes kids feel better, but it also may improve their quality of life and lead to better health outcomes. The NFL, by continuously demonstrating support for Make-A-Wish, helps to make these long-lasting, impactful experiences possible.

Wish kids at the Super Bowl date back to 1982 when the NFL granted the wish of John Paul Serna, a 12-year-old Arizona boy, at Super Bowl XVI in Pontiac, Mich., the 9^th wish in Make-A-Wish history. Since then, every Super Bowl has been attended by at least one wish kid; totaling more than 200 Super Bowl wishes throughout nearly four decades.

To learn more and find out how you can get involved, visit wish.org.

SOURCE Make-A-Wish America