Student's two-year fundraising challenge

A big-hearted schoolgirl has begun a two-year mission to raise money for a wish-making charity in Luxembourg, helping children with life-limiting diseases live their dreams.

Only two weeks back into school and Maddie Browne wasted no time in getting her fundraising project off the ground, holding her first event, a cake sale, on Friday, where she raised nearly 70 euros.

“I asked my friends to nake some cakes and I baked cup cakes. I'm selling them for one euro,” the 16-year-old told wort.lu/en.

The funds raised from this and future activities will go directly to Make-A-Wish Luxembourg, a not-for-profit linked to US-based Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children suffering serious illness.

Since the Luxembourg charity was founded just over a year ago, it has granted the wishes of two children. Volunteers behind the scheme hope to raise 100,000 euros to achieve their target of granting the wishes of 30 youngsters next year.

Maddie's efforts, while making a difference to other young people, also form part of her studies. As an IB student at the International School Luxembourg, she is expected to complete 150 hours of Community Action Service. Maddie said that she spent the summer thinking over how to dedicate these precious hours.

“I was thinking of cancer research first. Then I thought Make-A-Wish was more about the emotions of the child, to give them a worthwhile life,” she said, adding: “They were looking for volunteers to help with activities. I asked if I could raise money.”

During the course of the next two years, Maddie has a number of activities planned, including taking part in the ING half marathon with her dad.

Maddie says she doesn't have a specific target only that she hopes to raise as much as possible and enough to grant at least one child's wish.

To find out more about the charity, visit www.make-a-wish.lu