I wish to be a pilot

A young boy dressed as an airline pilot stands in an air traffic control tower, pointing at a screen. He wears a blue uniform and hat with a badge. An adult works at the control panels in the background.

A young boy dressed in a pilot uniform stands smiling between two adults in dress shirts, all posing in a bright, modern building with screens and stairs in the background during a special Make-A-Wish philantropy event.

During his cancer treatment, confined to hospital beds and a calendar of appointments, little Aris began to dream of flying – not just as a passenger, but as a pilot, steering his own destiny.
After months of anticipation, a flight attendant arrived at his home with a perfectly tailored pilot uniform and ID badge. At the airport, aviation professionals welcomed him warmly, guiding him through the aircraft maintenance area where he explored airplane parts and learned how they’re repaired. Then came the moment he’d dreamed of: stepping into the cockpit. Aris was captivated by the maze of buttons and switches, asking question after question, eager to understand it all.

His journey ended in the control tower, where staff explained their vital role. And then, something magical happened—pilots flying in and out of Athens greeted Aris over the radio, calling him their newest teammate.

His Mum shared, “with the fulfilment of this wish, it felt like the hardest part of our treatment came to a close, and we can finally leave it behind.”

I wish to be a pilot

“Together we make the impossible, possible.”