“That’s her” someone whispers in the crowd as a long white limo pulls up to a red carpet in front of the entrance to the Chesterfield Town Center Macy’s. Everyone cheers and cameras snap away as the door opens and a small figure steps out of the limo in combat style boots, skinny jeans and a Make-A-Wish t-shirt knotted behind her back. This is 16 year old Samantha Mays, and today is her day.
A parade of Macy’s Employees cheer Samantha’s name with noise makers and handmade signs that say, “We Love Sam” written in glitter. The cheerful crowd sweeps Sam and her family to the center of the store where galvanized tins of letters to Santa are displayed. Sam is presented with a stocking, a gift basket of make-up, a makeover and a $250 shopping spree to Macy’s – in addition to the shopping spree gifted from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Sam buries her head in her friend’s shoulder, tears well in her fathers eyes, and even the most stoic associates begin wiping tears from their cheeks. Each of these 1,700 letters, the manager announces, were written to Santa on Samantha’s behalf.
December 6th is no ordinary day for Macy’s, either. It’s also the fifth annual National Believe Day. Macy’s is doubling their $1 per letter match for a potential to raise an additional $1 million dollars to the Macy’s “Believe” Campaign for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Samantha is just one of 50 children across the country being granted a wish from Macy’s today.
“Today alone, $34,000 just from this store is being donated to Make A Wish Foundation,” says Todd Abrams, District Vice President for Macy’s. That’s $2 for every letter written for Samantha, and it’s only 10AM.
Sitting in a stool at the Estee Lauder make-up counter, it’s hard to believe this teenager was once on a feeding tube during her battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a cancer that affects bone and soft tissue. This small whisp of a girl knows more medical jargon than most adults, she has seen her hair fall out during chemo, and she’s watched friends not make it. Her shopping spree allows her to be carefree today.
“A year ago she was still really weak, just getting her strength back… going to night school when she could,” says her mother, Sandy Mays.
Now Samantha is slowly adjusting to life as a normal teenager at Manchester High School. “It was real hard at first…” her mother says of her adjustment, “but she went to homecoming and she’s starting to make friends.”
Sam snaps a selfie with her friend after their make-overs as her parents are interviewed. “It’s so nice to see her be a normal teenager,” says Sandy. After her shopping spree with a personal shopping assistant at Macy’s, her entourage had lunch at Carrabba’s before heading back to the Mall for more shopping.
About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to kids with life threatening medical conditions “This past year we granted 124 wishes our goal this year is to grant 165 wishes,” says Sheri Lambert, President and CEO of Make-a-Wish Greater Virginia. The chapter has granted wishes such as trips to Alaska, helicopter rides and even dinosaur digs according to the website.
There is still time to help Macy’s reach it’s goal of 1 million letters to Santa by dropping your letter off at the red Santa Mailbox in any Macy’s store. Each letter is matched with a $1 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation up to $1 million dollars.
If you would like to get involved with Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, visit their website.
