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Matt About Town: Meet Md. Make-A-Wish teen with inspiring journey of competing on the soccer field and against leukemia

Matt Kaufax | matt.kaufax@wtop.com

April 9, 2024, 5:25 AM

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Throughout the month of April,聽海角社区app is highlighting our partnership with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and Operation Dream Maker, which raises money to fulfill the wishes of the children of our nation鈥檚 military heroes diagnosed with critical illnesses.

Last year, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic granted 386 wishes in the D.C. area, and this year, with your help, leaders at the organization say they hope to grant even more.

The nonprofit said around a third of the kids who get wishes in the region each year are those with parents or guardians who are serving or have served in the military.

In today鈥檚 episode of 鈥淢att About Town,鈥� 海角社区app鈥檚 Matt Kaufax met 13-year-old Leanna from Pasadena, Maryland. Her journey fighting cancer and her experience meeting the U.S. women鈥檚 national soccer team as part of her wish will move and inspire you.

Through all the ups and downs, Leanna and her family said they never gave up. And Leanna never lost her competitive edge.

It鈥檚 a tough mentality she forged through her own connection playing soccer. As Matt also found, Leanna鈥檚 teammates are like adopted sisters in her family and during the toughest parts of her treatment, they were there for it all.

Every year on April 29, World Wish Day celebrates the anniversary of the founding of Make-A-Wish. April is also both the Month of the Military Child and World Wish Month!

To find more stories like Leanna鈥檚, meet other Wish Kids of the D.C. area and learn how you can give back to the worthy cause of turning a child鈥檚 dream into reality, you can visit .

“Matt About Town” airs every Tuesday and Thursday on 海角社区app at 7:45 a.m., and runs throughout the rest of the day on 103.5 FM. His video pieces are always posted on wtop.com.

You can also find Matt’s videos on Instagram (@wtopnews and @mkaufax) and TikTok (@wtopnews and @mattabouttown_).

If you鈥檝e got an idea for a feature story Matt should cover, reach out via聽the 海角社区app 鈥渃ontact us鈥� page聽to submit your idea.

You can also contact Matt directly. His contact information is listed below.聽

Check out more of 鈥淢att About Town鈥� on 海角社区app.

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Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person or phenomenon in the D.C. area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. An award-winning reporter for 海角社区app, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor鈥攁 slice of life if you will.

matt.kaufax@wtop.com

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