“Spike For Hope” is a passion project shared by two friends, TJ and Abi, who experienced seeing their parents fight cancer. To be held at Makati Hope Christian School on January 16, 2016, the volleyball tournament aims to increase awareness about pediatric cancer. Moreover, it will raise funds to grant wishes with Make-A-Wish Philippines.
TJ Cruz’ father, veteran multi-awarded actor Tirso Cruz III, was diagnosed with early stage lung cancer in September 2014. He underwent surgery to remove 1/3 of his lower right lung in October and received 4 cycles of adjuvant treatment until February 2015. The family kept the health battle in private and the actor only announced that he was cancer-free as he celebrated his 63rd birthday in March of that year. TJ remembers telling his dad before receiving treatment, “Keep your head up, God gives His hardest battles to his strongest soldiers”. After receiving news that he was cured, his dad attested, “God is still in the miracle business. He never left us.”
In September 2015, TJ participated in the activity of St. Luke’s Medical Center Pediatrics Department in partnership with Corridors of Hope Foundation. He was touched after meeting cancer patients who were so young and full of energy despite what they were going through. He wanted to do more for sick kids and when he saw a social media post from his friend Abi about Make-A-Wish Philippines, he was instantly drawn to its special mission of granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to give hope, strength and joy.
Make-A-Wish Philippines is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, the world’s largest wish-granting organization. It is the first and only wish-granting organization in the country. Founded in 2000, it has granted more than 1,900 wishes of Filipino children with the support of sponsors and volunteers. Categories of wishes include: “wish to have”, “wish to go”, “wish to meet”, “wish to be” and “wish to give”. The foundation believes that a wish-come-true brings forth more happiness and less fear, making the kids more energetic and compliant to treatment protocols; that the wish process strengthens families; and that the wish experience transforms not just the wish families but the sponsors, volunteers and community as well.
Abi Arcangel, who lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age, is a volunteer of the foundation. She shares that with Make-A-Wish, she gets to be genie, fairy godmother, wizard, Santa Claus and Patch Adams all in one. She quips, “You’d think it would be quite difficult to make one’s dream come true but then you realize it’s actually not. We adults have such complicated wants and knowing what these children wish for actually changes your perspective about what truly matters. We come to help yet leave more inspired and blessed”. She loves the idea of granting wishes and making children forget that they are sick even for a while. She further shares an experience when a friend tried to question the real impact of helping someone who might die anyway, to which she remarked, “We believe in the power of a wish-come-true. We’ve seen the effect in our Wish Kids – you see the budding hope, strength and joy right before your eyes and feel it to your core. But if some really do need to pass on, it still does not negate the beautiful day they were given. I will never forget when a Wish Dad got in touch with our staff to say thank you while his son was facing a critical time – that moved me, to have a father still thanking strangers for giving the happiest day of his son’s life. Knowing that you were given the privilege to be part of someone’s wish coming true and the happiest day of his life, wouldn’t you just take it?”
TJ and Abi are very excited about their first fundraising project together. One of TJ’s passions is playing volleyball and he is happy about the support from celebrity friends, fellow hobbyists, varsity players and professional athletes such as Heroes Volleyball Program and alumni from De La Salle University, among others. Makati Hope Christian School is sponsoring the venue. St. Luke’s Medical Center – Bonifacio Global City will be providing first aid. When in Manila is the media partner for Spike For Hope.
TJ still believes God gives His hardest battles to His strongest soldiers, young or old. The beautiful thing is – in our own little way, we can join the miracle business, too. We can give hope, strength and joy by making wishes come true for Wish Kids in the Philippines.
Want to be a genie on January 16? For inquiries regarding ticket reservations and sponsorships, email abiarc@yahoo.com. Donate, volunteer or make your own passion project and share the power of a wish! Follow Make-A-Wish Philippines on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter — the more people know about the foundation, the more wishes will come true for brave children battling life-threatening illnesses. Make-A-Wish Philippines is aiming to reach the 2000th Wish milestone in the country early this year.
