The story of the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation

Nik was diagnosed with cancer just before his 18th birthday and was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This wish meant the world to him. It gave him hope and happiness in a time of struggle and pain. When Nik discovered that kids over 17 do not qualify, he wanted to help. The night before cancer took his life in 2012, he asked to help them have a wish too. The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation (aka Nik's Wish) was born.

We have seen wishes to celebrate the end of treatment, wishes to encourage patients to keep fighting during treatment, and even last wishes to bring families together to create precious moments of joy. A Nik's Wish carves out a joyful time to laugh, love and be together - And to forget about cancer for a while.

Families With Young Adults Fighting Cancer

Young adults, ages 18-24, have very specific concerns when they are diagnosed with cancer. This is a time in their lives when they want to meet others and form close relationships. It's a time when they want to focus on school, careers, and starting families. Instead their time is spent in treatment at children's hospitals, where they most certainly feel it's a step backwards. Cancer robs them of the cherished independence their peers enjoy.

Nik's Wish is driven by a core team of passionate volunteers who generously give their time, talents, and what they can afford to help enable wishes to come true. This involves administration, hospital outreach, fundraising events, and working with the young adults and their families. A good portion of the volunteers' donations cover the foundation's overhead costs, so that your support goes directly to Bringing JOY to young adults fighting cancer.