I am a Junior Girl Scout and working towards earning my Bronze Award. I have decided on a project that is close to my heart after considering many different ways that I can help my community. To follow is my story and why I chose this project.
I am a healthy 10-year-old and 5th-grader at Weaver Elementary. A few weeks ago I injured my leg at soccer practice. I made a bad turn on the ball, went down and knew right away something was really wrong. I had never been in so much pain. With a visit to the doctor the next morning, I found out I had broken my leg and I would not being playing soccer for another three months. Not only would I not being playing soccer, but there were also a lot of other things I would not be doing and have to miss out on, at least for a while.
I was very sad and disappointed at first, but then I started to think about a special friend of mine. She is also a soccer player and enjoys many of the same things as me. Unfortunately she got some bad news as well earlier this year. She was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a very strange word to a 10 year old. I wasn’t even sure what it meant. My mom tried her best to explain to to me, but I’m not even sure she really understands what it means herself. Because of the cancer and the treatment my friend has to go through, she is not able to play soccer and misses out on a lot of other things. She has been missing out for quite some time.
I will most likely be back on the soccer field in a few months, but my friend isn’t so sure when she’ll be back. My broken leg cannot compare to what she is going through. I think about her all the time and wish there was something I could do to make her better. I also know she’s not alone. About 50 children will be told they have cancer in the US each day. There are about 50,000 kids fighting cancer in hospitals today. They are just like my friend fighting to get back out there and do all of the things we take for granted.
With the holidays coming up I want to do something to bring a little holiday cheer to all of these kids that will be spending the holidays in the hospital. I want to let them know that we care about them and wish them better. I have recruited a few of my sister Girl Scouts to join me with this project.
We have been planning and organizing and are excited to get things started. Our goal is to send 1,000 messages of hope, joy and love to kids, from kids.
Our project had three great parts to it:
1. ‘Holiday Cheer Grams’ – Sell ‘Holiday Cheer Grams’ for $1 each at Weaver Elementary School, after school, Monday, 12/2 Thru Fri, 12/6.
A ‘Holiday Cheer Gram’ is a simple personalized message with a special treat attached before delivery. They can be sent to anyone at Weaver. Or send one as a “secret” gram!
The best part is that each gram sold will be matched with a special “Holiday Cheer Gram” to be delivered to a child at Children’s Hospital.
Never Ever Give Up!
All proceeds from the sale are to benefit the NEGU Foundation whose mission is to bring joy to kids fighting cancer.
The grams were delivered to the classrooms on Friday, Dec. 13, the last day of school before Winter Break.
2. Joy Drive: Holiday Small Toy Collection See: http://joyjars.negu.org/joy-jars/toys/ – We also took a collection of small toys to donate to JoyJars helping them fill more jars with Joy! We will set a collection box outside the Media Center during the two weeks of school in December before break and promote the collection while selling the grams.
JoyJars® were created by Jessica Joy Rees during her courageous 10 month fight with two brain tumors. Jessie used her JoyJars® to spread hope, joy and love to children fighting life altering medical illnesses. See: http://joyjars.negu.org/
3. We participated and encouraged all of Weaver Elementary to attend the NEGU Santa Stroll, a festive family fun-raiser walk-a-thon presented by the Jessie Rees Foundation to support families fighting childhood cancer. It was held Dec. 15, at Santa Margarita
These are just a few small ways we could do something to bring a little holiday cheer to the many courageous kids fighting cancer.
