ROCHESTER — Over 10 Make-A-Wish families gathered at the New England Rodeo on Saturday, Sept. 6 with one goal in mind: have fun.

“We do events like this two to three times a month to keep them engaged with us and to have them connect with other wish families,” said Monica Julian, community senior manager of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Make-A-Wish chapter. “A lot of our wish recipients are still dealing with a lot of health issues, medical complications [and] we want to be there for them.”

Make-A-Wish is a global nonprofit that works with children diagnosed with critical illnesses, providing them with positive experiences while working through treatment and recovery.

“We grant life changing wishes for kids right here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and we want to continue the relationship after the wish,” said Julian.

Wish families were taken on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, where they met cowboys, cowgirls, bulls and mini-broncs.

“It’s such an amazing foundation, and children in critical care have such a better response rate when they do have that opportunity to have their dreams and wishes fulfilled,” said New England Rodeo Strategic Advisor and Producer Kelly Pina.

18-year-old Kaylee Chambers of Woonsocket was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020 during Covid lockdown, which her mother Kristina described as a “difficult experience.”

Shortly after her diagnosis, Kaylee was granted her wish from the organization in 2021 when she got to meet “one of her favorite singers” Lauren Daigle over Zoom.

“Make-A-Wish has been there kind of from the beginning of her journey with this, [and] she’s still in active treatment today,” said Kristina.

Since connecting with Make-A-Wish, Kaylee has performed the national anthem at a Patriots game, a Celtics game and a Red Sox game. On Sept. 6, she was given the opportunity to belt out the anthem at the rodeo.

“I like singing. I grew up in choir and worship at our church,” she said.

Kaylee’s father, Tim Chambers, emphasized that the family is most excited to “see all the Make-A-Wish families” and hopes that the rodeo can “make a lot of money for Make-A-Wish.”

At the rodeo, a booth was set up with Make-A-Wish representatives and attendees were able to donate money to the cause.

Julian states that it’s been “amazing to work with” the rodeo crew to put together the night for the families.

“[it’s] such a unique opportunity that we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, thanks to the rodeo,” she said, adding that for many of the families, it’s their first time at a rodeo.

Ultimately, Julian states that the organization aims to bring joy to these families as they fight against “critical” and “life-threatening” illnesses. 

“That’s our job at Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island — just to bring joy and hope to these families and these kids who are going through really, really tough times,” she said.