Everyone has the power to grant a wish for someone, and on Saturday, area residents do just that by participating in “Rides for Wishes” at the Exchange Club Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Pre-Summer Fling event featuring amusement park rides and fun will benefit Make-A-Wish Mississippi. Armbands for rides are $5 for children age 5 and under and $10 for those age 6 and up.

All the proceeds from the rides will go to Make-A-Wish Mississippi, according to Jane Walsh, development manager with Make-A-Wish Mississippi.

The organization grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Wishes granted have ranged from a new puppy to a visit with a celebrity to a trip to Disney World, Walsh said.

According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family, according to a Make-A-Wish press release.

With the help of donors and volunteers, Mississippi’s chapter of Make-A-Wish, based in Ridgeland, grants an average of at least 100 wishes a year.

For additional information about the upcoming Rides for Wishes event, contact Judy Arnold, local Make-A-Wish volunteer, at 601-754-7068.

Visit Make-A-Wish at www.ms.wish.org to learn more about the organization.