| We've
all heard them. Those wild stories that Santa isn't
real. Well, I'm here to tell you that they are not true!
Santa really does exist, or at least his spirit exists
in the Hugs and Hope Club for sick children. The club's
2500+ members are acting as Santa's elves this holiday season
and they're making a difference every day in the lives of
sick children who have never even met them before.
Hundreds
of strangers all over the country and even throughout
the world are reaching out to critically ill children
and helping to bring a little more love and laughter into
their lives.
Nine-year-old Connor
loves watching Scooby Doo with his dad and playing
computer games. He is not so fond of all the checkups
that are necessary because he has a rare form of
advanced cancer. The second grader tries to talk his
way out of each medical procedure that his doctors require
of him, but in the end he always must give in and submit to
the treatments. Connor has had radiation therapy, chemo therapy,
and seven surgeries in his battle to beat cancer. His
experience has been made a little easier because of the "happy
mail" he receives from Hugs and Hope Club volunteers.
And his Christmas will be merrier because of the ELVES
who volunteered to sponsor him this holiday season.
Before Connor
became a member of the Hugs and Hope Club, he would lament
that the mailbox was always empty. Now he happily receives
mail on a daily basis from people all around the world.
"It means so much to Connor to know that people are thinking
of him!" said his mom.
For many
families of sick children, Christmas is a tough time
of year. With medical bills, the prospect of Christmas
gifts is often unlikely. But, thanks to the elves of
the Hugs and Hope Club, Connor and hundreds of other sick
children will have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning
and so will their healthy brothers and sisters.
Hugs and
Hope Club founder Marsha Jordan believes that "Christmas morning
should be fun and and happy, even if your family has fallen
on rough times financially." She feels that sick children
especially should have a joyous Christmas, because it might
just be their last.
Janice
Wilder is a "hug giver and hope builder," as the
volunteers call themselves. She is a cancer survivor
herself. She tries to
encourage other people to become volunteers too. "It doesn't
take much effort on your part to make a huge difference and
I have found personally that my life is brightened so much
by whatever I do. It's a wonderful feeling to know that
you are bringing a smile to the face of a sick child and you
can't help getting back some of the joy that you give."
Yes, Santa
still exists. He lives in the hearts of Hugs and Hope
Club members! To learn more about this group, visit
the Hugs and Hope Club web site at http://www.hugsandhope.org. |
