SportsCenter ‘My Wish’ Series returns July 5-9

SportsCenter ‘My Wish’ Series Returns July 5-9. Courtesy of ESPN, photo by Les Bentley
Shaq made Alexander's wish come true.

Courtesy of ESPN, photo by Les Bentley Shaq made Alexander's wish come true.For the fourth straight year, ESPN will air the SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series, which chronicles sports-themed wishes granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The series is sponsored by The Walt Disney Company. Stephanie Druley, senior coordinating producer, ESPN, and David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer, announced that the series will air Sunday, July 5, through Thursday, July 9,.As part of the series, ESPN will help grant sports-related wishes with leading sports figures to five children referred through the world’s largest wish-granting charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each wish will be the subject of one SportsCenter feature segment.The SportsCenter segment will feature the story behind the wish, interviews with the youngsters and their families and a behind-the-scenes look at the wish fulfilled, including the interaction between each child and his or her favorite athlete. Emmy winner Chris Connelly will again host, and each SportsCenter “My Wish” segment will be taped. “Sports have a unique way of connecting people to one another, from athlete to fan, and the ‘My Wish’ series continues to share that bond through one-of-a-kind experiences and stories,” Druley said. “The feedback from participants and viewers has been extremely positive year after year and we find that there are always more compelling stories to be told.” “The ‘My Wish’ series has generated incredible interest in the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission during the past three years,” Williams said. “The stories genuinely reflect what Wish children experience every day – from the daunting challenges of a life-threatening medical condition to the unforgettable joy of having their heartfelt wishes granted. We truly appreciate the support of ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and the athletes who give their time to make the children’s wishes such amazing moments."ESPN.com will offer additional and complementary content related to the five wish-granting experiences.With more than 20 original episodes in three years, “My Wish” has offered wish-granting experiences and featured the Wish children's favorite athletes or teams, including: Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, Todd Helton, Michelle Kwan, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Tedy Bruschi and NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson.