Make-A-Wish is a charitydedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in January of 1986 Make-A-Wish has grown from being an answering machine in the founder's spare bedroom to a leading charity for children with chapters all around the world. Hulk Hogan has personally donated much of his time to this cause granting well over 200 wishes and was easily the most requested celebrity of the 1980s. While it would be impossible to make an entire list of all of wishes that Hogan has granted (Make-A-Wish has told me that they didn't even start keeping exact records until the 1990s) I wanted to add as many as possible.
- 1986 - Make-A-Wish founder Bob Cleveland recalls one of the earliest wish kids: Armando, from Central Washington, who wished to meet the world famous WWE superstar: Hulk Hogan. He will never forget the moment Hulk wrapped his championship belt around Armando's waist.
- 1986 - 12 year old Shannon Rose was born with a life threatening syndrome known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). He was granted a wish from Make-A-Wish Foundation to meet his hero, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan. That introduction brought him in front of the legendary announcer Gordon Solie and Pro Wrestling Legend “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Together they helped Shannon begin his career as a professional wrestling ring announcer; Rose made his first appearance as a Professional Ring Announcer at the age of 14. Since his first appearance in the ring, Rose has managed to work with all the major wrestling corporations from ECW to NWA. Rose has also come out of the announcing realm to manage professional wrestlers like Kevin Sullivan, The Mighty Hercules, and Fidel Sierra “The Cuban Assassin”.
- 1987 - young Christopher Hamilton passed away from leukemia in 1987 but not before leaving his family memories and a chance to make his own when he met Hulk Hogan which was made possible by the foundation which the Hamilton family continues to support to this day.
- 1987 - young Patrick Murray had Hepatocellular Carcinoma and the doctors did not give him much time . His wish was to meet Hulk Hogan thanks to Make-A-Wish that came true; The problem was Patrick was to sick to Travel. Hulk Hogan and the WWE would be visting Pittsburgh very soon. However Hogan was only going to be in for a short time before he had to travel to another city. Patrick would have to travel to meet him at the Civic Arena. He got to go back stage and meet Hulk Hogan, Bruno Samartino and many others. Hogan Pick him up an began talking to him. He looked Pat in the eyes and said "Don't die on me, Patrick I love you to much." Patrick fought hard and did go in to remission until 1997. He was going for his drivers permit and the doctors found that something was wrong. the discovered another form of cancer. He tried to fight it but this time it was not to happen. He died at the age of 20 on December 19, 1999
- 1989: Maryann Cascio reported that Hogan fulfilled Herson's wish to meet him when he was ill in 1989
- 06/29/02 - New York, NY - Madison Square Gardens: Hulk Hogan granted a wish to 10 year old Stanley Nicholas Sclavos who was diagnosed with Leukemia the previous year. Although He had previously gone in to remission after a bone marrow transplant and was preparing to go back to Australia, the young boy relapsed and sadly passed away the next year.
- 08/21/05 - Washington DC: A Mr. Daniel Jason Rivera posted on Hulk Hogan's Facebook page that Hogan granted a wish to a younger brother before taking on Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam.
- 11/20/09 - Canberra Australia: Superstar wrestler Hulk Hogan met his match from the tag team combo of Sports Minister Kate Ellis and a 17-year-old.
Drawing the biggest crowd to the Senate courtyard in memory, the Hulk took on Ms Ellis and Mark Dunn, who has cancer, in a celebrity bout for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Biceps strained in the left-handed arm wrestle, but Hogan was outmuscled by the young up-and-comers. Meeting Hogan is one of the most popular requests received by the Make-A-Wish Foundation worldwide. Hogan said he was honoured to be associated with the charity. "Children are our future. They have more strength than all of us," he said. {pic} - 11/23/09 - Perth Australia: Hulk Hogan brought smiles to the faces of sick children at the Burswood dome as he posed for pictures and signed autographs; he also presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a $5000 donation on behalf of Burswood.Pics: {1, 2, 3}
