are sick seriously/have serious illness

M:Melissa, what is the Make-A-Wish Foundation?
W: It’s a well-known charity that grants the wishes of children with very serious illnesses. Since its foundation in 1980, it has granted more than 110, 000 wishes world-wide. The children ask for all kinds of things, like meeting their favorite movie stars, or taking a trip to a place they’ve always dreamed about. This experience gives children and their families a much needed break from the day-to-day realities of dealing with illness.
M: How did you get involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation?
W: My first contact was just recently, when I participated in the TV game show, Get-Me-Out-Of-Here. The show consisted of a group of famous people who lived a rough life in the rain forest while the viewers at home voted us off. Before the show started, each of us chose a charity. Everyday that we stayed on, the charity would gain money, I’ve always been into children’s charities. So when I had to decide what charity I wanted it to play for, ake-A-Wish seemed like the perfect choice.
M: What was the worst thing that happened to you on the show?
W: The first day, I had to put insects and rats into my pants, but the worst was all the rain. It rained non-stop 12 out of the 16 days. We were wet all the time: it was brutal.
M: Did knowing that you were doing it for Make-A-Wish help you get through it?
W: Absolutely. I feel like I’m so blessed with my son who is healthy and wonderful. I thought a lot about the other children, I was putting myself out there to help them experience something they really wanted to do before they got sicker or died, it gave me a lot of strength.
M: Did you win?
W: Almost, I came in second, and the Foundation received $ 100, 000 for my second place win.