When her local Girl Scout troop needed to plan a community service project to earn a merit badge, 14-year-old Devyn Wilson knew exactly what she wanted to do.“My friend, Brooke Mosier, has a cousin named Hope, who has cancer,” she said. “Her story was really inspiring.”
After sharing the story of the Vancouver 10-year-old’s battle with the disease and radiation treatment, she and the members of Camas Cadette Troop No. 41864 decided to do something to help the young patients at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland.
“When asked what we could do to help, she suggested we help the children find something to do to pass the time and keep their minds occupied,” Devyn said.
She, her sister Kamryn and their friend Maddie Scott are all students at Pacific Crest Academy in Camas.
They decided to organize a craft drive in all the classrooms. Earlier in the year, they also organized a similar drive with family and friends, bringing in approximately $600 worth of crafts to the hospital.
The girls also had the opportunity to tour the hospital and walked away impressed.
“If I ever got sick, that’s the place I’d want to be,” Kamryn said.
The craft drive will last through the end of this week.
So far, donations have been sporadic, but the girls feel positive about what they are doing.
“It brings joy to my face knowing that I am doing something good,” Scott said. “There are a lot of people in my family who have undergone cancer treatment, so it’s nice to be doing something for others that I can personally relate to.”
Kamryn agreed.
“These kids aren’t much different than myself,” she said. “But suddenly, they get cancer and miss school, their friends and don’t know how long they’ll be in the hospital. Bringing crafts is not a big miracle, but it is something to keep them occupied.”
Diana Wilson, mother to Kamryn and Devyn, is their Cadette Troop leader and has watched the girls organize much of the project on their own.
“As a parent, it’s hard to imagine what you would go through watching your child suffer through cancer,” she said. “I’m proud of the girls and what they are doing to help.”
To donate crafts or for more information, call Diana Wilson at 503-502-2620.
