New York Times: Rachel’s Last Fund-Raiser

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Rachel lived outside Seattle and early on showed a desire to give back. At age 5, she learned at school about an organization called Locks of Love, which uses hair donations to make wigs for children who have lost their own hair because of cancer or other diseases. Rachel then asked to have her long hair shorn off and sent to Locks of Love.

“She said she wanted to help the cancer kids,” her mother, Samantha Paul, told me. After the haircut, Rachel announced that she would grow her hair long again and donate it again after a few years to Locks of Love. And that’s what she did.

Then when she was 8 years old, her church began raising money to build wells in Africa through an organization called charity:water. Rachel was aghast when she learned that other children had no clean water, so she asked to skip having a ninth birthday party. In lieu of presents, she asked her friends to donate $9 each to charity:water for water projects in Africa.

Rachel’s ninth birthday was on June 12, and she had set up a birthday page on the charity:water Web site with a target of $300. Alas, Rachel was able to raise only $220 — which had left her just a bit disappointed.

Then, on July 20, as Rachel was riding with her family on the highway, two trucks collided and created a 13-car pileup. Rachel’s car was hit by one of the trucks, and although the rest of her family was unhurt, Rachel was left critically injured.

Church members and friends, seeking some way of showing support, began donating on Rachel’s birthday page — charitywater.org/Rachel — and donations surged past her $300 goal, and kept mounting. As family and friends gathered around Rachel’s bedside, they were able to tell her — even not knowing whether she couldn’t hear them — that she had exceeded the $47,544 that the singer Justin Bieber had raised for charity:water on his 17th birthday.

“I think she secretly had a crush on him, but she would never admit it,” her mom said. “I think she would have been ecstatic.”

When it was clear that Rachel would never regain consciousness, the family decided to remove life support. Her parents donated her hair a final time to Locks of Love, and her organs to other children. Word spread about Rachel’s last fund-raiser.

Contributions poured in, often in $9 increments, although one 5-year-old girl sent in the savings in her piggy bank of $2.27. The total donations soon topped $100,000, then $300,000. Like others, I was moved and donated. As I write this, more than $850,000 has been raised from all over the world, including donations from Africans awed by a little American girl who cared about their continent.

“What has been so inspiring about Rachel is that she has taught the adults,” said Scott Harrison, the founder of charity:water. “Adults are humbled by the unselfishness of this little girl.”

Rachel’s courage at the very young age of 9yrs to give finally resulted in $1,265,823 worth of donations to bring fresh water wells to others who didn’t have access to clean drinking water.

Rachel’s donation page: http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=16396

Rachel’s mom Samantha is keeping her daughter’s memory and deep desire to help others alive by continuing the giving as a tribute to Rachel’s. To donate, go to: http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=21634

Felicia Reinhard is the founder of Inspiration Through Art (formerly Littlest Hero’s Project), an organization that links photographers, artists and volunteers with families who have children with serious health issues.

“Our mission at Inspiration Through Art is to help provide and capture memories for families who are dealing with hectic schedules due to having a child who is suffering from a serious illness or life altering disability.

If you have a child, or know a child, who suffers from any type of serious illness or life altering disability we are here to help. Inspiration Through Art provides our special heroes with complimentary photo shoots, special cards and mail, gift packages, and various  other programs, events, and fundraisers.”

I am thankful for Felicia’s courage to step outside her own life struggles to provide inspiration and loving memories for families.  She is a great example of courage in action!

Visit Inspiration Through Art at: http://www.inspirationthroughart.org/

and LIKE their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/dreamdoINSPIRE

I am especially excited since I have signed-up to be a volunteer to make a treasure box for a little hero on their birthday!

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Great articles about Felicia’s organization

excerpt from: Daily Herald SPOTLIGHT: Arlington Heights woman helps kids By Kimberly Pohl/ Bob Chwedyk

“Thanks to Felicia, now 20, and the organization she started five years ago, hundreds of other families have their own photographs to treasure.

Inspiration Through Art, formerly known as the Littlest Heroes Project, is a network of photographers, artists and other volunteers who provide free programs and gifts to children with a serious illness or life-altering disability.

More than 2,000 photographers as far away as China have signed up to share children’s stories through complimentary photo shoots, by far the nonprofit organization’s most popular service.

Felicia facilitates the process, working with families, running an elaborate website and collecting items to send care packages to her “heroes.” Her desire to make life more joyful for others is a byproduct of Felicia’s own difficult circumstances.

Born drug-addicted, premature and underweight, she’s gone through life dealing with unpredictable medical issues. She doesn’t know who her birth mother is. “I only know that my mother was young, had a lot of other kids and was going through hard times,” said Felicia, a 2009 graduate of Buffalo Grove High School. “She made very bad choices, but she made one amazing choice, and that was to have me and know she couldn’t keep me.” Sandra and Bill Reinhard of Arlington Heights, who had fostered 15 other children, took in Felicia when she was a month old.”

 ”With the exception of selling T-shirts and other merchandise adorned with the group’s logo to fund the website, Inspiration Through Art doesn’t accept monetary donations. Felicia doesn’t expect to change that, preferring for donors to get creative instead. She has accepted supplies such as boxes and stamps.

“It’s about making a personal connection with these kids,” Felicia said. “You don’t necessarily know you’re making a difference if you just write a check.”"

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Another great article about Inspiration Through Art by Kelsey Swanson http://volumeone.org/articles/article/2415/Inspiration_through_art

Inspiration Through Art: national project taps local photographers to help families of ill children

Some of us wake every morning to the smile of a child, the heartbeat and center of our world. We take pictures, imagining a day years down the road when we can look back and remember that moment as they gazed into the camera with a look that will blossom as they grow.

Now imagine that child is plagued by a serious illness or life-altering disability that consumes your family’s life, leaving no thought or time to take that simple instant and hold it in perpetuity. You treasure every moment, yet the chance to record it flies past as you and your loved ones fight for every day, living amazing stories that sometimes slip without notice to others. The non-profit organization Inspiration Through Art acknowledges this challenge and gives families the chance to celebrate the lives of their fighting children. 

Formerly known as the Littlest Heroes Project, Inspiration Through Art was founded in 2008 by Felicia Reinhard as a nationwide volunteer network that provides free programs and services to the little heroes of our nation. Artists and professional photographers offer their services to families that struggle with illness and disability, capturing the art and beauty of each child, giving them a chance to share their inspirational stories with the world.

“Life moves so quickly when you are trying to keep up with medical appointments, therapies, and other activities, as well as just trying to be a family, that it becomes even more important to ensure they have those reminders of the moments they will want to remember,” said Kendra Krasin, a photographer for Inspiration Through Art from River Falls.

Other local volunteers include Angi Randall Photography of Augusta, Buena Farrell Photography of Ellsworth, Capture Life LLC of Eau Claire, and Catherine Brayall Photography of New Richmond.

Each case is treated individually, taking into consideration the needs of each child and family. Photographers and volunteers travel to homes, hospitals, clinics, fundraisers, and benefits to capture the child’s life and personality in more than just a professional setting, but rather as any other family would record the memories of their children. Inspiration Through Art provides each child with complimentary photo shoots, special cards and mail, and gift packages. It is host to various other programs, events, and fundraisers as well, including personal art sessions at home or in the hospital.

Sharing the beauty of a young life is always a work of art. This program takes that gift and records the masterpiece for families while promoting awareness for all kinds of childhood illnesses and disabilities. With the collaboration of volunteers, Inspiration Through Art ensures that no matter how long the battle or whatever the outcome, the journey of each of these children is acknowledged and remembered.”

Luciano de Crescenzo (born 18 August 1928) is an Italian writer, film actor, director and engineer.

Interview excerpts from article in Jacksonville Public Education Examiner by Steve DiMattia

“Knowing that there is a 32 percent chance that this will return within five years is scary,” Kara said, though she didn’t linger there for long. “That’s why I try to spend each day like it really is my last and to make a difference that my kids can be proud of.”

Kara is inspired by any parent who is dealing with an illness that can and does rob their children from them.

“For a parent to have to watch their child suffer and to see the strength that it takes in them to explain to that child why and what is happening. That’s real courage,” Kara said.

She is motivated by how seemingly so little can make such a big difference in the life of someone living with an illness. And how easy it really is to give back.

“For me, it was cleaning because I already had a business, the products and the manpower in place. But if someone can bake and bring cookies to a hospital or to a neighbor going through a difficult time; if you can cook a meal or two and bring to a family that you have heard about suffering with an illness; if you see a post on someone’s Facebook wall, just acknowledge and support them even if that is all you can do. You do not have to know someone to make a difference. There are many things you can do to help someone that do not cost any money.”

Convincing cleaning companies that helping others free of charge is good for business is one of Kara’s biggest challenges.

“Any time you give, the reward is giving, not getting,” Kara said. “I work tirelessly on getting new cleaning companies to join the network so that more families can be helped.”

Kara’s courage to help other families, even while she continues with her own treatment, is truly inspiring.

Read more about Kara’s story at: http://www.examiner.com/public-education-in-jacksonville/kara-anderson-is-delighted-by-america-inspired-nomination

check out her web site at: http://www.cleaningwithameaning.com/Home.html

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) - scientist, inventor, engineer

Clay was admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, and that’s where he met someone who would literally change his life. Allison Batson is a transplant nurse at the hospital, and the two formed a bond. “Immediately, when Clay came onto our unit, he became a special patient that everyone just gravitated to,” Batson, 48, said in a press release. “Here was this young man with everything in his life ahead of him, and he was fighting for his life.”

What Allison did next was definitly beyond her normal job description. Batson was tested to see if she could be a match for a kidney transplant, and she tested positive. “I thought, you know what, ‘I can do this.’  I talked to my family about it, and all of them were incredibly supportive.”

“Both Taber and Batson’s procedures went as planned.  Today, Taber is preparing for his wedding in June, and he hopes in the future to pursue a banking career or work in the athletic department of his alma mater.  He calls Batson his ‘third mom’ alongside his own mother and the mother of his fiancé. “

Read more and watch their story:  http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/16/transplant-nurse-donates-kidney-to-patient/?test=faces365 greatful project

François de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)- French writer

Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) - German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary

Courage isn’t something you plan for. It’s often the gut reaction to a tragic event that drives you beyond exhaustion. That’s where Larry and Gretchen Holt Witt found themselves when their beautiful 2 year old son Liam was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

Amidst the pain they were going through as a family, Gretchen and Larry were even more frustrated to learn how little research was being funded for childhood cancer, and that “the primary reason over 25% of kids diagnosed with cancer do not survive is because of a lack of effective therapies”.

Sitting back was not an option, so Gretchen did what any mom on a mission would do… she held an enormous bake sale. As volunteers rallied around the family, a community assembled to bake 96,000 cookies. They had raised $400,000 for new childhood cancer research, and that was only the beginning as they created Cookies for Cancer, an amazing charity that bakes up cookies for a cure.

Unfortunately, Liam lost his battle with cancer on January 24th of 2011.

In Elina Furman’s blog she writes to Gretchen:

“ I think about your courage, hope and your bright smile and your deeply sad eyes as we talked about your son, a conversation I worried was too painful for you; though now I see it was the retelling of your story over and over that kept you ruthless and strong in your quest to save Liam.”

“Every step, every dollar raised, every minute you have spent has already added up so much and I hope this Valentine’s Day letter serves as a reminder that so many of us have been touched by your struggle and courage.”

Elina’s beautiful call to action encourages us to have our own Valentine’s Day Cookies for Cancer bake sale in Liam’s honor.

Cookies for Kids Cancer has raised over $2.5 million on behalf of pediatric cancer research. With only 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s funds going to pediatric cancer, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is committed to raising funds to support research for new and better therapies for pediatric cancer. Through the concept of local bake sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities, and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer.

So on this Valentine’s Day, let’s do our part to help in the fight for kids battling cancer everywhere. Whether it’s buying cookies or organizing a bake sale locally, let’s make this holiday about spreading the love and joy of families who need it most.

http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org

http://blog.cookiesforkidscancer.org/