A wish can change everything
At Purple Heart Wishes, we create unforgettable moments for adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness aged between 18–55. A wish is more than just an experience—it’s a chance to escape, dream, and make lasting memories with loved ones.
What is a wish?
A "Wish" is a heartfelt grant made to individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness in their early adult life. Purple Heart Wishes focuses on creating and fulfilling these wishes to help these individuals make precious, everlasting memories with their families and friends. Essentially, a wish is an opportunity provided by the charity to bring some joy and comfort during a very challenging time, allowing recipients to experience something special that they desire.
Types of wishes we can help grant
Featured wish stories
Behind every wish is a moment that matters. Read more wish stories
Sailing Yacht Charter
Purple Heart Wishes granted a wish for my husband Mike; a day on a yacht for our family! Wow - what a day it was. We got to experience a whole day of sailing.
The boys loved helping with jobs around the yacht and basically sailed the yacht the whole time. Mike and I also had a go at steering which was brilliant.
We anchored up for lunch and Mike and the boys went for a quick swim, it was freezing but they loved it. The skipper Lou was absolutely brilliant, she had so much knowledge and gave us a magical experience and a memory we will treasure. Thank you Purple Heart Wishes for arranging such a wonderful wish for us.
Magical Ski Experience at Chillfactore
Just before my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer — right as we were meant to take our three boys on our dream ski trip. Purple Heart Wishes made that dream possible.
They were so patient and understanding, organising everything when I felt overwhelmed and unable to plan. We had a magical ski experience at Chill Factore, where the staff were incredibly kind, and an unforgettable stay at Hotel Football — a dream for our young football fans. The boys loved every moment, especially playing rooftop football.
Thank you for giving us precious time together and memories we will carry forever.
Day out to Harry Potter World
Thanks so much to Purple Heart Wishes for giving us an amazing day out at Harry Potter World this week.
Since my diagnosis we haven't been able to do much as a family and it was just so wonderful to be able to do something that we all loved so much, all being big Harry Potter fans! We had lots of smiles and fun, took lots of pictures and made some fantastic memories that my son and husband will be able to treasure for many years. Normally we couldn't afford a day out like this either, so we're really grateful to have had the opportunity to have such an amazing treat! Thanks so much again!!
All the best, Claire
Meet the wish granters
Mark & Jo, the dedicated people behind making Wishes happen. Learn more about us
Mark Kelly ✨
Mark works directly with wish recipients to create unforgettable experiences. His calm and compassionate nature helps turn dreams into reality.
Joanne Maw ✨
Jo is creative, thoughtful, and dedicated to ensuring every wish is delivered with the care and attention it deserves.
How it works
Every wish starts with a spark, and a little help from you. Whether you’re a parent, carer, or professional, our process is here to guide you through making that wish a reality. It’s simple, supportive, and focused on what matters most: the person at the heart of it.
Check eligibility
Before you get started, make sure the person you're referring meets our eligibility criteria.
Complete the form
Applications can be completed by yourself, a family member, friend or medical professional. We’ll ask for some key details and supporting information to help us understand how we can bring the wish to life.
We review the wish
Once you’ve submitted the form, our team will review the application to make sure everything’s in place. We might get in touch if we need more info or to chat through the next steps.
Let's make the magic happen
If the wish is approved, our wish granters will work with you and the person to make it a reality, safely, thoughtfully, and with plenty of excitement along the way.
Wish FAQs
Want to know more about how wishes work, who can apply, or what’s possible? Here are some of the questions we’re most often asked
Purple Heart Wishes grants wishes to young adults aged 18–55 living in the UK who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Each wish is unique! From events, days out, weekend breaks in the UK, gifts and surprises – we will try our very best to make your special moment happen.
You can apply by filling out our online Wish Application Form, or a family member, friend, or healthcare professional can apply on your behalf.
Once an application is submitted and approved, our team works as quickly as possible to organise the wish — timelines vary depending on the request.
No. Wishes are fully funded by Purple Heart Wishes through donations, fundraising, and sponsorships.