CHILD CANCER SURVIVOR MAKES A BIG WISH
The public is invited to a birthday party on Sunday, April 13th, for a very special 8-year-old girl who has already survived the ordeal of cancer. She has “Made A Wish” for one-million beverage cans and their pop tabs. Tierra Reynolds, 8, was successfully treated for lung and thyroid cancer at Riley Memorial Hospital for Children in Indianapolis late last May and early June. Although not completely cured, the disease was stopped from spreading, and a carefully monitored healing process is well underway. She will have to take medications for the rest of her life.
Tierra and her mother, Kim, received many favors from Riley staff members, their family and friends during her treatment. In gratitude, they are “paying forward” those favors on behalf of five other children at Harrison Hill Elementary Academy, which Tierra attends. Those five are also receiving extra care for other catastrophic diseases at Riley Hospital. One of those five children is even in Tierra’s same class. On their behalf, mother and daughter started in October the daunting task of collecting one million pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House, a temporary family home near the hospital. In January, several of Fort Wayne’s Kiwanis and Key Clubs joined their efforts, and are now hosting the party with the League for the Blind & Disabled, Inc., at 5821 S. Anthony Blvd., from 1pm to 5pm. Cans and tabs will be weighed to determine an accurate count. There are 933 tabs and 30 cans per pound.
In the meantime, the public can also drop off their cans and pop tabs at the League during business hours. Since cans and pop tabs are so closely linked, Kiwanis has further combined their efforts with Habitat for Humanity, who collects cans to build homes for the needy. It takes five million cans to provide one home. Now, both local organizations are swapping the items for mutual gain. All the cans go to Habitat, and Habitat is helping Tierra collect pop tabs. She has received nearly 400,000 pop tabs, and is sharing a growing number of cans with Habitat for Humanity.
Also, the public is asked not to bring stuffed animals or other toys to the party. If any are donated, they will be given to more needy children in family shelters. For more information, contact Kiwanis organizer Todd Fruehling at 459-6544 or by e-mail at tjf@aol.com.
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