Make-A-Wish Australia recently whisked twenty-year-old Mount Evelyn wish recipient Thomas into the wizarding world by granting his unforgettable wish of riding on the Hogwarts Express after waiting patiently for over two years.
With the help of experiential tourism operator Journey Beyond, the Hogwarts Express, better known to muggles as The Ghan, was transformed specifically for Thomas as he embarked on the four-day train journey from Darwin to Adelaide.
Thomas, who has Down Syndrome, was diagnosed five years ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer. Now in remission, Thomas was eager to walk onto Platform 9¾.
“Thomas loves Harry Potter, and he became obsessed with trains after he saw the Hogwarts Express. He kept asking if we could do something with trains,” Thomas’ mother Theresa said.
Based in the outer eastern suburb of Mount Evelyn, Thomas and his family were finally able to make the journey up to Darwin after waiting through two years of Covid delays for the magical train ride to be possible.
“It was really a dream trip for us. We haven’t been able to go anywhere together for over five years and to be able to do something together as a family has just been incredible,” Theresa said.
“We are so grateful to everyone at Make-A-Wish and to all of the volunteers and crew along the way who helped to give us this special trip.”
Make-A-Wish Australia CEO Sally Bateman said the organisation has granted over 10,000 wishes and will be celebrating 37 years in Australia this November.
“We are enormously grateful for the incredible generosity and support from our amazing donors, volunteers and partners and we simply could not have made Thomas’ wish come true without the incredible support of Journey Beyond,” Ms Bateman said.
Journey Beyond generously donated a Gold Access Cabin on The Ghan for Thomas and his parent’s journey and incorporated Harry Potter references throughout his on-train experience.
David Donald, Executive General Manager, Rail Expeditions said Journey Beyond were delighted to be able to help Make-A-Wish create this unique magical experience for Thomas.
“Our crew embraced the idea from start to finish, encouraging fellow passengers to join in the fun along the way. It was just as special for us as it was for the Moxey family,” Mr Donald said.
Make-A-Wish currently has more than 850 children on their Wish Journey. This Christmas, they are asking for the public to help grant more inspirational wishes like Thomas’.
To support Make-A-Wish and create Christmas joy that lasts a lifetime for sick kids, head to www.makeawish.org.au.
