Sunset Ridge teacher Christa Conrad can give you a very personal perspective on what “Make a Wish” can do for a family. 

“You live your life so differently when you are navigating a very serious medical condition,” she said in a recent video to the “Make a Wish” community.  “Every day matters and you thrive in the positive distractions.”

Conrad’s daughter Madeline “Maddie” Bonilla was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer when she was eleven years old and it has impacted her every day of her life. This type of cancer is very rare and will need to be monitored the rest of her life. 

This year, Maddie was the focus of her classmates during the Golden High School 2025 “Make a Wish” campaign. The goal– raise enough money to send Maddie and her family to Australia to fulfill a lifelong dream. “I have dreamed of going to Australia because of my love of animals and some of the most exotic animals in the world are in Australia,” Maddie explained earlier this week. “I have always dreamed of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.” Because of “Make a Wish” that trip will happen in the near future. 

Golden High School’s fundraising effort included a school pep assembly where Maddie had a chance to thank her classmates and say how important she believes it is to focus on kindness and positivity. The local newspaper, “The Golden Transcript” was there to cover the event. 

In addition, Maddie will be at the Westminster High School pep assembly on Friday to share her story and encourage students to donate to the “Make a Wish” cause. 

“Make a Wish” is such a great organization” she said. “They really care about who you are as a person and want to know your story.” 

Maddie’s cancer has left some visible scars and affects her appearance. She says the public explanation of her illness has opened doors to classmates who now have a better understanding of her and the disease.

“Everybody is different in their own way.”