XMWare

2024-12-17T09:01:00

(BPT) – In 2024, more than 100,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes located in the skin. When melanoma spreads beyond the surface of the skin to other organs (also known as advancing), it can become deadly, which is why it is important to understand the available treatment options if you or a loved one are facing a melanoma diagnosis.

Melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread to other areas of the body. When someone is diagnosed with melanoma, doctors must determine the stage of the cancer, meaning how much the cancer has spread in the body. As melanoma becomes more advanced, meaning it has spread to other organs, it becomes more challenging to treat and survival rates decline. Of patients newly diagnosed with stage I and II melanomas, stage II makes up approximately 16.5%, and approximately half of these are IIB and IIC.

Fortunately, many melanoma patients have treatment options. Surgery, also known as resection, is what most physicians recommend to treat stage IIB or IIC melanoma. However, about one-third of patients with surgically resected stage IIB and nearly one-half of patients with surgically resected stage IIC melanoma experience recurrence (the cancer coming back) within five years after diagnosis. Due to innovations in the melanoma treatment landscape, immunotherapy can be used to treat eligible melanoma patients after surgery. Immunotherapies are designed to use a patient’s own immune system to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

Adjuvant therapy is an additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment (or surgery for early-stage diagnosis) to help prevent the cancer from coming back. Thanks to treatment innovations, there are adjuvant immunotherapy options for eligible patients that are designed to use a person’s own immune system to help fight their cancer.

In 2023, Opdivo^® (nivolumab) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medicine used to treat a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. It may be used alone in adults and children 12 years and older with stage IIB, stage IIC, stage III or stage IV melanoma to help prevent melanoma from coming back after it has been completely removed by surgery. This approval provides a treatment option for these melanoma patients that may help prevent their cancer from returning.

Opdivo can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. You may have more than one of these problems at the same time. Serious side effects may include lung problems, intestinal problems, liver problems, hormone gland problems, kidney problems, and skin problems. Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

“Opdivo is a PD-1 inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy) that is indicated as an adjuvant treatment for eligible patients with stages IIB, IIC, III, as well as stage IV completely resected melanoma,” said Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, Melanoma Medical Oncologist, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.* “This therapy may help prevent cancer from coming back, providing a treatment option and hope for these patients.”

With the cases of melanoma rising worldwide, it’s important to know and understand the different treatment options available to treat early-stage melanoma that can be removed by surgery. “If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with melanoma, you should speak with your healthcare team about your treatment options based on your specific diagnosis,” said Dr. Tawbi. “Adjuvant treatment options, such as immunotherapy, may be an option.”

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with early-stage melanoma, be sure to ask the healthcare team if Opdivo could be a treatment option after surgery. To learn more about Opdivo, visit Opdivo.com.

*Dr. Tawbi has previously served as a clinical trial investigator and scientific advisor to Bristol Myers Squibb.

INDICATION:

OPDIVO^® (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. It may be used alone in adults and children 12 years and older with Stage IIB, Stage IIC, Stage III or Stage IV melanoma to help prevent melanoma from coming back after it has been completely removed by surgery.

It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age with melanoma or MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer.

It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children for the treatment of any other cancers.

Important Safety Information for OPDIVO^® (nivolumab)

What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO?

OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. You may have more than one of these problems at the same time.

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

• Lung problems: cough; shortness of breath; chest pain
• Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; severe stomach-area (abdominal) pain or tenderness
• Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
• Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heart beat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
• Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; loss of appetite
• Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; swollen lymph nodes; painful sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose, throat, or genital area; fever or flu-like symptoms

Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with OPDIVO. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include:

• Chest pain; irregular heart beat; shortness of breath; swelling of ankles
• Confusion; sleepiness; memory problems; changes in mood or behavior; stiff neck; balance problems; tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
• Double vision; blurry vision; sensitivity to light; eye pain; changes in eye sight
• Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness; muscle cramps
• Low red blood cells; bruising

Getting medical help right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for these problems during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment if you have severe side effects.

Possible side effects of OPDIVO

OPDIVO can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO?”
• Severe infusion reactions. Tell your healthcare team right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of OPDIVO: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; shortness of breath or wheezing; dizziness; feel like passing out; fever; back or neck pain
• Complications of bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be severe and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with OPDIVO. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.

The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used alone, include: feeling tired; rash; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; itching; diarrhea; nausea; weakness; cough; vomiting; shortness of breath; constipation; decreased appetite; back pain; upper respiratory tract infection; fever; headache; stomach-area (abdominal) pain; vomiting; and urinary tract infection.

These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before receiving OPDIVO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
• have received an organ transplant, including corneal transplant
• have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
• have received radiation treatment to your chest area in the past and have received other medicines that are like OPDIVO
• have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO can harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OPDIVO passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with OPDIVO and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO.

• You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with OPDIVO.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for OPDIVO.

©2024 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. OPDIVO^® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

1506-US-2400473 12/24

2024-12-17T09:01:00

(BPT) – When most people think of advanced melanoma treatment, their first thought likely includes chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Immuno-oncology (IO), also known as immunotherapy, has changed how advanced melanoma can be treated.

Unlike chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, which directly target the tumor, IO uses medication that is designed to leverage the body’s own immune system to help recognize and target tumor cells. IO has the potential to help stop tumor growth or shrink tumors, and it can come in two forms: monotherapy (one immunotherapy) or dual IO (two immunotherapies working together).

Finding an Appropriate Treatment

The first dual IO medication for the first-line treatment of metastatic melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) was approved nearly 10 years ago. Since then, dual IO has become a critical pillar in advanced melanoma treatment. One treatment option in advanced melanoma for adults and children 12 years of age or older is Opdualag™ (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw), which is designed to work by connecting to tired T cells and activating them so they can help the immune system attack cancer. All therapies have the potential to result in adverse reactions. See below for Important Safety Information on Opdualag.

Receiving an advanced melanoma diagnosis can be overwhelming, especially if it’s uncharted territory. However, understanding others’ experiences may help patients better navigate a diagnosis.

In 2022, Terry* was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. As a U.S. veteran, an avid rider of his electric bike and someone who loves to travel and spend time with friends, Terry feared for what this diagnosis meant. He was concerned about the treatment journey ahead. After discussing treatment options with his healthcare team, Terry’s doctor recommended that he receive Opdualag.

Hear more from Terry about his experience and why dual IO was the right treatment for him, as well as expertise from Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, Melanoma Medical Oncologist, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,** about navigating an advanced melanoma diagnosis and the importance of continued innovation.

Based on your experience with melanoma, how has your treatment journey impacted your life?

Terry: My diagnosis changed my life.

I’m honored that I was the first patient at the Veterans Affairs (VA) to receive Opdualag after it was approved by the FDA. The results were impactful for me, and treatment was mostly manageable where I experienced a little fatigue, afternoon tiredness, a rash on the back of my neck and a few itchy red blotches on my arm and chest. I’m glad I talked to my doctor about treatment options.

Terry’s results may not be typical. Opdualag may not work for everyone. Individual results may vary.

Why is it important that innovation continues for the treatment of advanced melanoma?

Dr. Tawbi: In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 100,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2024 alone with advanced melanoma representing about 10% of all cases. These statistics stress the urgency for continued scientific innovations, such as dual IO, in cancer treatment.

Based on your personal experience, what would you tell someone who has been diagnosed with melanoma?

Terry: My biggest piece of advice is to find a doctor you trust and can have open and honest conversations with. Together, you and your doctor can develop a personalized treatment plan that you both feel is the right option for you.

Dr. Tawbi, what is your advice for newly diagnosed patients?

Dr. Tawbi: I encourage patients to promptly start a dialogue with their doctor to become more informed about the condition. It’s also important to lean on resources outside of the doctor’s office, such as family, friends and advocacy organizations. The more patients know about their condition, the more empowered they’ll feel to advocate for themselves and engage in treatment decision-making conversations with their doctors.

To learn more about Opdualag, visit www.opdualag.com and speak with your doctor.

*Terry is an actual patient who has been compensated by Bristol Myers Squibb for his role in the article.

**Dr. Tawbi has previously served as a clinical trial investigator and scientific advisor to Bristol Myers Squibb.

INDICATION:

Opdualag™ (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age or older with a type of skin cancer called melanoma that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced melanoma). It is not known if Opdualag is safe and effective when used in children younger than 12 years of age or older who weigh less than 88 pounds (40 kg), or in children younger than 12 years of age.

Important Safety Information for Opdualag (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw)

What is the most important information I should know about Opdualag?

Opdualag is a medicine that may treat a type of skin cancer called melanoma by working with your immune system. Opdualag can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. You may have more than one of these problems at the same time.

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

• Lung problems: new or worsening cough; shortness of breath; chest pain
• Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; severe stomach-area (abdominal) pain or tenderness
• Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
• Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heartbeat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
• Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; loss of appetite
• Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose, throat, or genital area
• Heart Problems: new or worse chest pain; irregular heartbeat or feel like your heart is racing; shortness of breath; tiredness; swelling in your ankles

Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with Opdualag. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include:

• Confusion; sleepiness; memory problems; changes in mood or behavior; stiff neck; balance problems; tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
• Double vision; blurry vision; sensitivity to light; eye pain; changes in eyesight
• Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness; muscle cramps
• Low red blood cells; bruising

Getting medical help right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for these problems during treatment with Opdualag. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment with Opdualag if you have severe side effects.

Possible side effects of Opdualag

Opdualag can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about Opdualag?”
• Severe infusion reactions. Tell your healthcare provider or nurse right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of Opdualag: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; shortness of breath; dizziness; feel like passing out; fever; back or neck pain
• Complications of stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be severe and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with Opdualag. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs of complications if you have an allogeneic stem cell transplant.

The most common side effects of Opdualag include: muscle and bone pain; tiredness; decreased red blood cell and white blood cell counts; increased liver function test results; rash; itching, diarrhea; decreased salt (sodium) in your blood.

These are not all the possible side effects of Opdualag. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before receiving Opdualag, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
• have received an organ transplant
• have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
• have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis, or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Opdualag can harm your unborn baby
  Females who are able to become pregnant:

• your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving Opdualag
• you should use an effective method of birth control during and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Opdualag. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time
• tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with Opdualag
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Opdualag passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Opdualag and for 5 months after the last dose of Opdualag

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Opdualag.

© 2024 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Opdualag™ and the related logo are trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

1425-US-2400197 12/24

2024-12-16T08:31:00

(BPT) – Expecting mothers have countless preparations to make before their little ones arrive, from decorating the nursery and installing a car seat to picking a pediatrician and thinking about maternal immunizations. For mom and actress Chloe Bridges, who is partnering with Pfizer, navigating pregnancy — and the choices that come along with it — was a little overwhelming.

“Looking back, I was facing so many decisions about how to help protect my baby. Everyone — my friends, my parents, my husband Adam’s parents, social media — had their own opinions,” said Bridges. “It was a lot.”

Now, when reflecting on her pre-birth planning, Bridges says she has ‘new mom clarity.’ One crucial decision she made during pregnancy was receiving ABRYSVO^® (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine), the only vaccine given to pregnant people at 32 through 36 weeks gestation to help protect infants from the risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from birth through six months.

What is RSV?

RSV is a highly contagious virus that can be dangerous for babies. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants in the U.S, with more than 50% of all RSV-related hospitalizations during the first year of life occurring within the first three months, and more than 75% occurring within the first six months.

The role of maternal immunization

During pregnancy, the mother’s body naturally passes antibodies, including those her body creates after receiving a vaccine, to the infant. That means mothers who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant can help protect their babies from the risk of RSV starting with their first breath by receiving the ABRYSVO vaccine.

“Expecting mothers are doing everything they can to prepare for the birth of their babies. It’s such a transformative and life-changing experience to have a baby,” said Bridges. “For me, speaking with my OB-GYN throughout my pregnancy journey helped me to make decisions that were right for me and Beau. She answered all my questions and provided me with so much information that I needed to prepare.”

An important maternal vaccine

If you’re pregnant and approaching the third trimester of pregnancy, consider asking your OB-GYN or other healthcare provider about ABRYSVO. Pfizer’s ABRYSVO is the first and only maternal RSV vaccine that helps protect newborns against RSV from birth through six months of age. To avoid the potential risk of preterm birth, ABRYSVO should be given at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends ABRYSVO if you are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant from September through January (in most parts of the continental United States). Keep in mind that the recommended months for maternal vaccination might vary depending on your location.

Decide what’s best for you and your baby

“I wanted to help protect Beau from RSV from his first breath,” said Bridges. “I’m so glad I decided to get the vaccine for him while I was pregnant.”

Talk to your OBGYN or other healthcare provider to learn more about how to help protect your baby against RSV.

This article was sponsored by Pfizer. To learn more about the vaccine and deepen your knowledge about RSV and maternal immunization, visit ABRYSVO.com.

Important Safety Information and Use

WHAT IS ABRYSVO?

ABRYSVO is a vaccine indicated for pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants from birth through 6 months of age.

• ABRYSVO should not be given to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any of its components
• To avoid the potential risk of preterm birth, ABRYSVO should be given at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age
• Fainting can happen after getting injectable vaccines, including ABRYSVO. Precautions should be taken to avoid falling and injury due to fainting
• Adults with weakened immune systems, including those receiving medicines that suppress the immune system, may have a reduced immune response to ABRYSVO
• Vaccination with ABRYSVO may not protect all people
• In pregnant individuals, the most common side effects (≥ 10%) were pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, and nausea
• In clinical trials where ABRYSVO was compared to placebo, infants born to pregnant individuals experienced low birth weight (5.1% ABRYSVO versus 4.4% placebo) and jaundice (7.2% ABRYSVO versus 6.7% placebo)

Ask your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of ABRYSVO. Only a healthcare provider can decide if ABRYSVO is right for you. Always talk to your healthcare provider about any side effects you may experience.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967.

Individuals who received ABRYSVO during pregnancy are encouraged to enroll in a pregnancy exposure registry at 1-800-616-3791. The registry will monitor pregnancy outcomes.

Please see full Prescribing Information for ABRYSVO.

PP-A1G-USA-1849 © 2024 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. November 2024.

2024-12-16T09:01:01

(BPT) – It was a day that 6-year-old Abbey and her parents will never forget. Abbey, from San Lorenzo, California, has leukemia. But she got to take some time off from hospitals, treatments and procedures to be a princess, complete with a unicorn companion, just for a day.

When Abbey and her family learned that she would receive a wish from Make-A-Wish^®, she knew her wish right away: Abbey dreamed of traveling to Hawaii to swim in the ocean with dolphins, and to have a tea party with a unicorn. Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and local Subaru retailer, Capitol Subaru, were on it. They teamed up to make Abbey’s wish come true. The first step, a princess-themed surprise party to reveal that her wish would soon come true.

They surprised Abbey with presents, a visit from a princess, her favorite snacks and even a “unicorn,” a miniature pony all dressed up for a tea party with Abbey. It made one little girl and her parents very happy, taking their minds off of her illness for a delightful moment in time.

It was an emotional day for Abbey and her family, and for the folks at Capitol Subaru as well. Next would come Hawaii and those dolphins. Abbey and her family left for Abbey’s wish trip of a lifetime on Dec. 1.

“Having a child go through difficult medical treatments is stressful on the entire family,” said Fernando Roque, general sales manager at DGDG’s Capitol Subaru. “We hope that by granting these wishes, we can provide a moment of joy for everyone involved and look forward to continuing to support this great cause.”

According to Make-A-Wish, approximately 27,000 children are diagnosed with a critical illness each year, and research shows that a wish can lead to better health outcomes and a higher chance of survival.

Subaru shares the love

It’s all part of a long-running partnership between Subaru and Make-A-Wish through the Subaru Share the Love^® Event. During the event, which runs from Nov. 21 to Jan. 2 this year, Subaru of America donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of participating charities, including Make-A-Wish.

Since Make-A-Wish has become a participating national charity in the Subaru Share the Love Event, the organization has received more than $35 million in donations, helping to grant more than 3,600 wishes to children fighting critical illnesses in the U.S.

Doing well by doing good

The Subaru Share the Love Event is the textbook definition of doing well by doing good. Subaru is donating a portion from each new Subaru purchased or leased, from now until Jan. 2, 2025, to charities its customers get to designate, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®, Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and the National Park Foundation. The charities get supported, Subaru customers feel good about the donation and Subaru aligns with what’s most important to its customers. Subaru is the largest automotive or corporate donor to each of those organizations.

There’s a hometown component, too, with local Subaru retailers like Capitol Subaru able to be involved in these lifechanging moments by donating an additional $50 or more to the local charities they’ve partnered with for each new Subaru purchased or leased through Jan. 2.

All of it together is a huge win, a holiday message of kindness and support that everyone involved can feel good about. Especially the unicorn and those dolphins, who had the good fortune of spending a day with a delightful wish kid.

Over the last 16 years of the Subaru Share the Love Event, Subaru and its participating retailers have donated over $288 million to causes around the country and supported nearly 2,300 hometown charities. To learn more, visit: https://wish.org/subaru.

2024-12-16T16:01:01

(BPT) – Like many sisters, 15-year-old Lila and her two sisters share a lot of things, including their love for their family. But unfortunately, all three of them also share the experience of being diagnosed with the same respiratory disorder, which has disrupted their young lives.

To help Lila, her sisters, and many other children with critical illnesses find more joy and hope in their lives, Make-A-Wish helps to grant their wishes — large and small. For Lila and her sisters, they used this opportunity to create lasting memories as they embarked on separate bonding experiences with their parents.

Lila had always wanted to see the West Coast, so when she was told that her wish would be granted, she knew right away that she wanted to go on a special trip to spend time with her mom in Pfeiffer Beach, California.

“Make-A-Wish has been an incredible blessing to our family,” said Lila’s mother Martha. “My daughter dreamed of seeing the West Coast, and it was made into a reality. We experienced so many amazing things — seeing whales and sea lions in the wild, exploring the beautiful California coast, having a day of pampering in a spa — and the list goes on. We were able to forget about the everyday challenges and just enjoy our time together. We will be forever grateful for the gift that Make-A-Wish gave us.”

To make wishes like Lila’s come true, it is imperative to have generous donors and corporate partners like Chase, which joined Make-A-Wish as a national corporate partner in 2024. Because over 80% of wishes involve some form of travel, airfare costs are the greatest expense on travel wishes. In fact, Make-A-Wish would need over 2.8 billion miles to cover every travel wish that they grant each year. To help grant these travel wishes, Chase provided Make-A-Wish with $1.5 million worth of Ultimate Rewards^® points and a $500,000 donation to fuel the travel of wish kids and their families.

How you can make a difference to a child

In addition to Chase’s contribution, Chase Freedom, Sapphire and Ink cardmembers can support Make-A-Wish by donating at Wish.org/Chase, then use Pay Yourself Back to redeem Ultimate Rewards points for the value of the donation after it has posted on their statement. To help cardmembers make an even greater impact, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 25-50% more, depending on which card is used.

You can make a difference for a child like Lila. Unwrap the power of a wish today and help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Visit Wish.org/Chase to learn more.