Camilla’s WishMaker Story

This interview highlights Camilla’s personal journey, motivations, and experiences fundraising through the Amsterdam Marathon 2025 to support critically ill children. It reflects on the emotional impact of wishes, the importance of community involvement, and the transformative power of hope.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?  

I love running in the forest, working out, playing tennis, and most importantly spending time with my family.

You work for Make-A-Wish International :  what first inspired you to join the team, and how long have you been part of the organization? 

My niece was diagnosed with rare and aggressive childhood cancer. During her battle, she received a Wish from Make-A-Wish America — a trip to Disneyland to meet Elsa. The everlasting and unforgettable memories they got to create will be cherished forever, and I got to witness first-hand the impact of a wish, and it moved me deeply.

In February 2022, my family and I relocated to the Netherlands, in April 2022, Teagan bravely lost her battle. I reached out to Make-A-Wish Netherlands to volunteer, and they referred me to the international headquarters, right here in Hilversum. After many months of waiting and interviewing, a position opened: Executive Assistant to the CEO. I applied — and got the job.

Today, I’ve been with Make-A-Wish International for over 3 years.

What motivated you personally to take on the Amsterdam Marathon 2025 as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish? 

After working at Make-A-Wish International for two and a half years and always having a passion for endurance sports, (previously triathlons in South Africa) I was looking for a new challenge, my first full marathon, Teagan is always my initial motivation but now she represents something even bigger than that – all children fighting critical illnesses.

Why did you choose the Amsterdam Marathon as your fundraising challenge? What does this goal represent for you? 

The Amsterdam marathon is one of the most popular marathons in the Netherlands, I had never run a full marathon before. The longest race before that was a half marathon. This was a big goal for me, and I never really believed I could complete a 42km. BUT after being exposed to more and more stories of what critically ill children and their families face on a daily basis, I knew they would inspire me to stick to my training program. Of course, my second and less important goal after finishing it would be to do it in 4 hours.

Was it easy to get started with fundraising and training? What helped you take that first step? 

Training was easier than fundraising, I am not usually vocal about my goals or personal life 😊. I am used to following training plans, so the difficult part was the fundraising. Luckily, I had a wonderful colleague at Make-A-Wish International who agreed to join me in the challenge, and I felt more comfortable sharing both our stories.

Asking others to support a cause can sometimes feel intimidating. How was that experience for you, and how did people respond when you invited them to support your fundraising? 

For me, it was very intimidating, and I never got quite used to sharing my story and asking for money. People of course are immensely generous and inspired by personal stories, and the response was overwhelming. The small donations are just as precious as the big ones.

You chose to fundraise on top of your role at Make-A-Wish International, what drives you to go the extra mile as a WishMaker? 

As an executive assistant you sometimes can be far removed from the children and lost in administrative tasks. This was an opportunity to bring the children back to the forefront of my mind and remind myself exactly what we are here for and why we do what we do.

Through your work and fundraising, how have you seen Make-A-Wish impact the lives of wish children and their families? 

Part of my role has also been to assist in some of the many wonderful Gift-in-Kind partnerships Make-A-Wish International manages. Reading the thank you notes and written feedback and photos from many children and their families really hit home, about the impact of the wish and the opportunity to see children “come alive” again. Critically ill children and their families face so many unimaginable challenges to give them something to look forward to and pure joy on a child’s face even if only for a short period has a long-lasting effect.

On a personal level, how has being involved with Make-A-Wish shaped or changed you? 

Working at Make-A-Wish will change you forever. As a mom of two small children, NOTHING is ever taken for granted. When you wake up every morning to healthy and happy children and are reminded daily of what life looks like, on the other hand you see life differently. I do my best to not get lost in the small details of things that would normally upset people and continually feel grateful that we can make a difference in the lives of these families.

What have wish children and their families taught you through their stories? 

The hope and strength that these families show day after day, week after week and year after year has taught me that nothing cannot be overcome. My children know all about Wish Children and their strength and what they endure. Whenever they are nervous, we talk about Wish Children.

Why do you believe giving back to your community is so important? 

The kindness and support that so many communities, organizations and people showed my family and especially my niece was truly amazing. Kindness costs you nothing and showing up for people when they need it in their hardest moment will give you way more than you ever extend. It truly makes such a difference in people’s lives.

How do you feel your involvement with Make-A-Wish — both professionally and personally — is helping create positive change in the world? 

Being involved with Make-A-Wish both professionally and personally has shown me how powerful hope can be. Through my work, I support the people and systems that help turn wishes into reality across the world. Behind every wish is careful coordination, compassion, and a shared belief that children facing critical illness deserve moments of joy and strength.

On a personal level, the mission has deeply inspired me. A wish does more than create a happy moment — it restores hope, lifts entire families, and reminds them they are not alone. Supporting Make‑A‑Wish means helping create light during some of the darkest times, and that’s why this cause is so close to my heart.

 Many people care about Make-A-Wish but don’t realize how much of a difference they can make. Based on your experience, why should others get involved? 

Every contribution — whether time, fundraising, or a donation — directly helps restore hope and strength to children and families facing the toughest moments of their lives. A wish isn’t just a special experience; it has a lasting emotional impact that lifts families, supports wellbeing, and reminds them they’re not alone. Getting involved means being part of something truly life‑changing, even in ways that may feel small but make an enormous difference.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about starting a fundraiser but isn’t sure they’re ready? 

I’ve realized you don’t need to feel “ready” or have it all figured out — you just need to start. Fundraising isn’t about being perfect; it’s about caring enough to take that first step. Even a small effort can have a huge impact, because every pound raised helps bring hope and strength to a child who truly needs it. You’re never doing it alone, and once you begin, you often realize you were more ready than you thought.

Why should someone reading this consider becoming a WishMaker today? 

Becoming a WishMaker means giving a child facing a critical illness something every child deserves: hope. In the middle of fear and uncertainty, a wish says you matter; you are seen, and you are more than your illness. That moment of joy can carry a child and their family through their hardest days — and you can be the reason it happens.

If you could share one message of thanks with all Make-A-Wish supporters, what would you like to say? 

To every Make‑A‑Wish supporter: thank you for choosing Make-A-Wish. Whether you donate, volunteer, fundraise, or simply share the mission, you are helping give children facing critical illness something incredibly powerful — hope. Your kindness creates moments of joy when they are needed most, and that impact reaches far beyond a single wish. None of this would be possible without you.