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As the chairperson for Kickin’ It 4 Kidz, I have,
on several occasions, been asked, “Why are you doing
this?” After spending countless hours in meetings,
doing paperwork, sending e-mails, and various other tasks
that come with such a project, I can easily tell you exactly
what the answer to this question is. It’s for the
kids.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Children’s
Hospital in the heart of downtown Birmingham and I was once
again reminded of why I began this process over a year ago.
As you walk into the hospital, you are immediately surrounded
by an atmosphere that feels much more like a playground
than a hospital. It is filled with colorful pictures, big
windows, and large and small chairs for kids and grown-ups
that make even the most dreary of days fun and bright. The
hospital houses literally hundreds of children each day,
and many more come through for a doctor’s appointment
or an outpatient surgery. As we walked through the hospital,
we were told of the ways the hospital makes children and
adults feel comfortable in the midst of trying circumstances.
A care center created just for terminally ill patients and
their families, tutoring services for kids to keep up with
schoolwork, daily chapel services, and lots of little red
wagons are just a few of the ways that the hospital is working
to improve their quality of life as they strive to improve
their health.
So why do I care about Kickin’ It 4 Kidz? One image
comes to mind: a small child, who has no idea that he’s
sick, laughing and smiling in a bright red wagon.
Michelle Roark,
Chairperson, Kickin’ It 4 Kidz
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