MONROE - When gladiators battle for every inch on the football field Sunday at MetLife Stadium in the biggest game, they'll be watched by at least 13 kids who know the real definition of strength and courage.

Make-A-Wish is sending 13 children battling serious illnesses from all around the country, including Matt Walton from Wayne, to the Super Bowl.

"I'm pretty excited," Walton, who suffers severe Crohn's disease, said. "Personally I'd like to see Seattle (win) but I feel like the Broncos are going to win."

The children and their families, were honored at the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, a magical and whimsical castle-like wish granting facility in Monroe Township.

The event kicked off with the children and their families being greeted by Monroe High School cheerleaders who lined up and each side of the door as the entered to give them a hero's welcome.

Carlos Bake Shop in Hoboken donated a cake to the event while Joe Faugno, who works in the shop, spoke personally about his daughter Bartolina who will be a freshman in college but was once a survivor and a Make-A-Wish kid.

"The people getting the wish, you have a big job too," Faugno told the crowd. "Enjoy the hell out of it. And remember, the Super Bowl is in Jersey, not New York City."

National Board Member John Crowley whose family was portrayed in the 2010 film 'Extraordinary Measure' starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, spoke about his 17-year-old daughter Megan who has been fighting Pompe disease.

"Megan's wish was, much to my chagrin, not to go to a Super Bowl but to go to Disney World," Crowley said."But it's a change to be a kid and for one day to be the center of the universe."

And in order to raise money and keep wishes coming, Crowley announced a fundraiser that depends directly on the Broncos quarterback.

Crowley said that every time Peyton Manning calls out Omaha at the line a scrimmage, he and Megan are going to donate $500 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Officials from Make-A-Wish said a donor has promised to match that figure up until $20,000.