Friday, May 28, 2010

MEDIA ADVISORY -- Make-A-Wish Presentation Monday, June 7

Reporters and editors: The following is a media advisory from the Make a
Wish Foundation about a student at one of our schools. Your coverage is
invited. Please note the embargo on the information until 10 a.m. Monday,
June 7. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Gershwin at
Make-A-Wish (information at end of advisory).


Jack Brandais
Communications Department
San Diego Unified School District
(619) 725-5570 (Desk)
(619) 607-0477 (Cell)

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**EMBARGOED MEDIA ALERT**

SAN DIEGO TEEN WILL SURPRISE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES WITH HIS GENEROUS WISH

WHAT: The surprise presentation of a very special wish to 14-year-old Darren
Shanks, a freshman at Patrick Henry High School who is battling cancer.

When offered the opportunity to wish to go anywhere, meet anyone or have
anything, Darren made a wish to give... he wanted to surprise his high
school's football team with new uniforms.

This remarkable young man¹s wish will come true at an all-school assembly on
June 7th when representatives from Make-A-Wish Foundation will reveal to
Darren that the Freshman, Jr. Varsity and Varsity football teams at Patrick
Henry will all be getting new home and away jerseys and home pants, thanks
to a generous donation from Nike. Darren, who has been out of school for
several months in treatment, will be returning to campus for this special
event.

Darren's teammates have been loyal friends and supporters - in fact, when he
started to lose his hair because of chemotherapy treatments, the entire
football team shaved their heads. Even though Darren can't play this year
due to his illness, he wants to give back and do something really special
for them.

Darren played on the freshman football team at Patrick Henry High School
last year as an offensive lineman and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's
Lymphoma in January 2010. He was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of
San Diego, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with
life-threatening medical conditions.

WHO: Wish kid Darren and his family, the students and faculty of Patrick
Henry High School, Todd Melrose from Nike, and representatives from
Make-A-Wish. The San Diego Chargers will also be participating in the
presentation, more details will be shared as soon as they are available.

WHEN: Monday, June 7, 2010. 9:36 a.m. Students will start arriving at
amphitheatre; 9:45-10:00 a.m. Program

Media interested in covering this event must arrive by 9:30 a.m., check-
in at the front office, and will be escorted to the amphitheatre.

No interviews will be provided until after the program, please note that the
details of this event are a complete surprise to both wish child Darren and
the school and will be revealed during the program.

WHERE: Patrick Henry High School, 6702 Wandermere Drive, San Diego 92120,
Outdoor Amphitheatre

CONTACT: Rachel Gershwin, 858-707-9470 x102, Cell 619-980-3346

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