The Alexandra Chiles Foundation does invaluable work in raising the spirits of children and young adults during their hospital stays and treatments. Often activities for children undergoing treatment are designed for very young children, leaving pre-teens and teenagers with little to occupy their time. The foundation provides activities that challenge their imagination while entertaining and enriching their lives.
I believe that the mind can help heal the body, and the activities help to provide a sense of accomplishment that must raise their spirits.
The Alexandra Chiles Foundation serves a community of children who are fighting cancer. The foundation provides the gift of keeping these children's mind occupied while working on a craft that is fun and useful at the same time.
I remember well when Alexandra was at Children's Hospital and she made oragami ornaments to decorate Christmas trees that her family passed on the friends. It was Alexandra's idea to do beading and other crafts to alleviate the tedious time while going through chemotherapy. She always kept busy with her hands during those long periods of time at the hospital.
Thousands of stricken children have been the happy recipients of beading kits provided, at first by the Chiles family, and now by the foundation. Alexandra's creative vision to entertain children with cancer needs to be expanded to reach children all over the United States and some day, beyond the boundaries of the US.
It is a joy, pleasure and honor to contribute to this most worthwhile cause and foundation.