Nine-year-old Mermaid Princess: Make-A-Wish Malaysia fulfills 1000th wish

In a heartwarming event, Make-A-Wish Malaysia, in collaboration with Sunway Malls & Theme Parks, celebrated a significant milestone by granting their 1000th wish. The recipient, nine-year-old Ayra Medina, a neuroblastoma patient, had her dream of becoming a Mermaid Princess come true.

The grand celebration, dubbed “Pearl of Hope: A Royal Celebration,” drew in members of the public and donors, who gathered to witness Ayra’s wish fulfillment journey. The event commenced with a royal coronation at Pink Island in Sunway Lagoon. Ayra was ceremoniously crowned by YAM Tengku Datin Paduka Setia Zatashah binti Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Princess of Selangor and the Royal Patron of Make-A-Wish Malaysia. She was also presented with a pearl sceptre by Mr. Calvin Ho, Executive Director of Sunway Theme Parks.

With her coronation complete, Ayra’s transformation into a Mermaid Princess continued as she donned a mermaid tail and wetsuit at the Surf Beach pool. Here, she joined life-sized mermaids in a seashell hunting activity, fulfilling her dream and creating a magical memory.

In honor of this milestone, attendees were treated to a variety of themed activities. The festivities included royal mermaid makeovers with face painting and hair styling, an Underwater Selfie photo corner, and a mermaid-themed cupcake station.

Pearl of Hope: A Royal Celebration

Irene Tan, CEO of Make-A-Wish Malaysia, expressed her gratitude for the support that made this celebration possible: “At Make-A-Wish Malaysia, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our donors and partners, which has enabled us to grant 1000 wishes. We strive to give back to the community by sharing the joy and power of a wish to critically ill children worldwide through this ‘Pearl of Hope: A Royal Celebration.’ We hope this celebration will inspire Malaysians to become their own pearls of hope, helping us to grant the next 1000 wishes.”

Calvin Ho, Executive Director of Sunway Theme Parks, also shared his sentiments: “We congratulate Make-A-Wish Malaysia on reaching their 1,000th wish-grant milestone. On behalf of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks, we are honoured to make Ayra’s dream a reality here at Sunway Lagoon. We hope this magical experience creates lasting memories for Ayra and her family.”

Heartfelt Gratitude from Ayra’s Family

Ayra’s father, Encik Muhammad Fizrullah, conveyed his profound gratitude: “As a parent, seeing Ayra laugh and be a child again is an indescribable joy. The happiness on Ayra’s face when she was crowned a Mermaid Princess is a memory our family will cherish forever. We are deeply grateful to Make-A-Wish Malaysia and Sunway Malls & Theme Parks for their kindness and dedication. This wish-granting experience has brought so much courage to Ayra and given us all a renewed sense of hope and strength.”

The celebration concluded with a special stay for Ayra and her family at the Sunway Resort Hotel, offering stunning views of Sunway Lagoon. This generous gesture by Sunway Malls & Theme Parks, in partnership with Sunway Resort Hotel, ensured that Ayra’s experience was truly fit for a princess.

To support Make-A-Wish Malaysia in achieving their next 1000 wishes, you can download the Make-A-Wish MY app on Apple or Google Play, visit their official website, subscribe to their newsletters, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.