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Princesses and princes host tea party for children with serious illnesses

Posted at 10:18 PM, Oct 20, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-21 00:18:10-04

SALT LAKE CITY – It was a fairytale come to life for children facing life-threatening illnesses as princesses from Cinderella to Snow White hosted a tea party for little girls and boys in honor of the Make A Wish Utah Foundation.

One by one, with trumpets playing, little girls and boys walked the red carpet as part of the event, which was hosted by the Distinguished Young Women of Utah.

Branna Bracey is a member of the young women’s group, and she said it’s all about service.

“It is so much fun,” she said. “The distinguished women program really emphasizes getting outside and serving the people in your community, and it's so much fun to be a part of this and here today with the kids to light up their lives and have them light up our lives as well.”

Terri Drashner has been volunteering for Make A Wish for more than a decade, and at this event she filled in as a fairy godmother.

“We have a party here, and it's just amazing,” she said.

Drashner said it’s the smiles on the children’s faces that fill her heart with joy.

“I love this,” she said. “I've done this for 12, 15 years, and it's amazing. These are my kids. I've done everything that I can with Make A Wish. This is my party. I've done it every year.”

She said she hopes the party helps the children forget their troubles for a little while.

“They're kings and queens, and it's just great so that they can forget and hopefully their parents can just sit back and watch their kids smile again,” she said.

Bracey said she was glad to be involved.

“It really puts things into perspective, and it really makes you think of how much you're grateful for,” she said.

For more information about the Make A Wish Foundation, click here.