WAKARUSA — Wakarusa Elementary School kindergartner Simon Blanchard, 6, has been selected as one of the recipients of Concord Junior High’s bi-annual Make-A-Wish campaign.

Simon has asked for a trip to Walt Disney World with his family.

“We look to see what child is pending a wish in this county and Simon was the first to come through,” said teacher Cheryl Stouder.

“We work with (Make-A-Wish) to select local children so our students feel a connection,” said Heather Schoenherr, head of the school’s Special Education department.

Simon was diagnosed last November with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Stouder, who works with Make-A-Wish to select Elkhart County children to benefit from Concord’s fundraising efforts, said a Disney World vacation is by far the most common wish of Elkhart Make-A-Wish children.

The average cost of granting a child’s wish is $8,000 and 70 percent of wishes involve travel, Emily Denholm, Make-A-Wish director of communications for Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky said.

Other popular wishes include swing sets, puppies, a meeting with the child’s favorite celebrity and the opportunity to try out a dream job for the day.

Stouder said another child, a boy from Elkhart, has been selected to receive a wish through the middle schoolers’ efforts this year and she expects to find another soon.



Concord Junior High kicked off their campaign with an opening ceremony on Friday, March 8.

Fundraising events for the month include:

March 13: Italian dinner during lunch periods (11:40 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.) in the CJHS staff lunch room

March 15: Student walk at 2 p.m. at the CJHS track

March 16: 5K run and 1 mile fun run at 11 a.m. at the CJHS campus

March 20: Trivia night at 6:30 p.m. in the CJHS cafetorium

March 21: Teacher concert during lunch periods in the CJHS lecture room

March 23: Family Night from 5 to 8 p.m. at CJHS

March 27: Talent Show at 2 p.m. in the CJHS cafetorium

March 28: Closing ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in the CJHS cafetorium