This touching story, which was told to me recently, is extra special because it's true! It's a story about how a little boy became the very first recipient of the now famous Make-A-Wish Foundation and became known as the 'littlest firefighter' in the world. It also shows the benefits charity organisations can bring and how they can make inspirational change in our world.

A 26-year-old mother stared down at her son who was dying of terminal leukaemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfil all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible. The leukaemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true.

She took her son's hand and asked, "Bopsy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

"Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up," the child said. Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day, she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!

"And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy one - with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow sticker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later, Fireman Bob picked up Bopsy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.

Bopsy got to sit on the back and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Bopsy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news programme.