Five-Part SportsCenter “My Wish” Series Returns August 17
RGIII, Russell Wilson, Roger Federer, Kasey Kahne and Arizona Diamondbacks Help Make Wishes Come True
Editor’s note: Photos are available
NFL quarterbacks Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins) and Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), tennis champion Roger Federer, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and the Arizona Diamondbacks team are participants in the eighth annual SportsCenter “My Wish” series. The summer series — which chronicles sports-themed wishes by Make-A-Wish® for children with life-threatening medical conditions — will return Saturday, August 17, during the 11 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter. Emmy Award-winning reporter Chris Connelly, who has hosted the series since its inception in 2006, will reprise his role.
Each episode will feature the story behind the wish, interviews with the children and their families, behind-the-scenes look at the wish fulfilled, and interaction between each child and their favorite athlete/team. In addition, ESPN.com will have articles surrounding each child’s experience posted on the same day as the corresponding wish. Fans can join the conversation using the hashtag #MyWish.
Details:
| Date | Time (ET) | Feature* |
| Aug. 17 | 11 p.m. | Although 12-year-old Kevin Lee has a life-threatening heart condition, he wants to play flag football with his favorite football player, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. A surprise visit from Lee’s dad, who works in Qatar, highlights his wish. |
| Aug. 18 | 11 p.m. | Spinal muscular atrophy forced five-year-old Kyle Byrd into a wheelchair, but that doesn’t stop him from being a “real” ballplayer with his favorite team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. |
| Aug. 19 | 6 p.m. | The Washington Redskins and starting quarterback Robert Griffin III (RGIII) welcome eight-year-old Lateef Brock who received a life-saving kidney transplant last fall. |
| Aug. 20 | 6 p.m. | Rylee Durham, a 12-year-old who suffers from Noonan’s syndrome, gets to meet her favorite driver Kasey Kahne on the famous Daytona International Speedway. |
| Aug. 21 | 6 p.m. | Beatriz Tinoco, a 17-year-old tennis player, has been battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She gets some pointers from Roger Federer in the sport’s most renowned venue – Wimbledon. |
| Aug. 22 | 6 p.m. | Recap of all five wishes with highlights from each wish |
* feature will premiere during SportsCenter with multiple re-airs on the following show blocks
Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Based in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 38 minutes. It has granted more than 226,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; nearly 14,000 in 2012 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org to learn more.
Team ESPN
Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate outreach initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN — Fans Helping Fans® — ESPN employees and fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live. ESPN has funded and volunteered for numerous projects in the Bristol community. For more information, please visit: www.teamespn.com
– #MyWish –
Media contacts: Dan Quinn (860) 766-2234 or Kimberly Jarvis (860) 836-5424
