Oakland A's grant Hawaii trip wish for local teen with leukemia

The baseball team partnered with Make-A-Wish Nevada to surprise 18-year-old Dylan Sanchez.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:07am

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A dynamic, colorful expressionist painting capturing the excitement and energy of a young person experiencing the thrill of their wish being granted, with splashes of neon colors and rapid brushstrokes representing activities like scuba diving and swimming with sharks.The Oakland Athletics' heartwarming gesture to grant a local teen's wish brings joy and adventure to a young life impacted by illness.Las Vegas Today

The Oakland Athletics teamed up with Make-A-Wish Nevada to grant the wish of an 18-year-old Las Vegas resident named Dylan Sanchez, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2024. Sanchez's wish was to take a trip to Hawaii to scuba dive, snorkel, and swim with sharks, and the A's surprised him and his family with the news that his wish would be coming true.

Why it matters

The A's have a long history of working with Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes for children and teens facing serious illnesses, which is a cause that is close to the team's owner and organization. Granting these wishes can provide hope, joy, and lasting memories for the recipients and their families.

The details

The A's mascot Stomper and team president Marc Badain were part of the festivities to surprise Dylan Sanchez and his family with the news that his wish would be granted. Badain stated that the team has worked with Make-A-Wish both in Oakland and in Las Vegas, where the A's have relocated, to help make these wishes come true.

  • Dylan Sanchez was diagnosed with leukemia in 2024.

The players

Dylan Sanchez

An 18-year-old Las Vegas resident who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2024 and had his wish to take a trip to Hawaii granted by the Oakland Athletics and Make-A-Wish Nevada.

Oakland Athletics

The professional baseball team that partnered with Make-A-Wish Nevada to grant Dylan Sanchez's wish.

Make-A-Wish Nevada

The local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation that worked with the Oakland Athletics to grant Dylan Sanchez's wish.

Marc Badain

The president of the Oakland Athletics who was part of the festivities to surprise Dylan Sanchez and his family with the news that his wish would be granted.

Stomper

The mascot of the Oakland Athletics who was part of the festivities to surprise Dylan Sanchez and his family.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working with them back in Oakland and certainly wanted to reach out when we got here. It's a cause that's close to our owner's heart and to the organization's heart. And so things that we can do to help grant these wishes are pretty special.”

— Marc Badain, President, Oakland Athletics

What’s next

The A's will work with Make-A-Wish Nevada to coordinate the details of Dylan Sanchez's trip to Hawaii, including the scuba diving, snorkeling, and shark swimming activities that were part of his wish.

The takeaway

The Oakland Athletics' partnership with Make-A-Wish to grant the wish of a local teen facing a serious illness demonstrates the team's commitment to supporting their community and providing hope and joy to those in need. This type of community outreach can have a lasting positive impact on the lives of the recipients and their families.