Wishes Can Happen

This past Good Friday was indeed a good day for the Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison to do some of the things we do best: help make children happy... and take LOTS of pictures.  And that is just what we set out to do at the Wishes Can Happen third annual Picture Party -- sponsored by Lee Spencer Photography.

Photo courtesy of
Lee Spencer Photography

This event has a deeply personal connection to the Spencer family.  Lee's sister Amy Lynn Spencer passed at the age of 16 and was one of WCH's first wish recipients.  Amy's wish was to learn to play the piano since she could no longer dance due to the chemo.  WCH granted her a piano and piano lessons.  The Spencer family has been very involved with WCH ever since. Three years ago, they came up with the idea to host the Picture Party fundraiser; as a way of returning the favor.  Tammy Anderson Spencer explains they wanted to, "give a family the wonderful memories that was given to our family by having a wish granted." Tammy went on to explain that several WCH families were in attendance at this year's event; some of whom had lost a child already and another family with a son currently in remission and doing well.

Wishes Can Happen!

As I'd mentioned at the start of this post, it's no secret that being a member of Rebel Legion -- you get used to being in plenty of pictures.  However, when guests at a WCH Picture Party get the chance to have a professional quality portrait done of their family -- you discover that you will likely be featured in more then just one Christmas card this year! (Star Wars costume included)  As people were having their pictures done -- often with a few Star Wars characters added in -- Lee Spencer Photography was uploading the finished photographs to the Facebook page; for fans to "tag" and "share" with anyone they wanted.

So far, Lee Spencer Photography has helped raise $4,725.00 for Wishes Can Happen; which is enough to grant at least one wish!!!

Wishes Can Happen is celebrating 30 years this year and they are completely volunteer based. WCH has never turned down a wish and mainly concentrates on granting wishes in Ohio.  To learn more about this wonderful organization, visit www.wishescanhappen.com