Random Act of Kid-ness: Helping Homeless on Way to Chemotherapy
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Philadelphia, PA where first grader Ella Wilson brings food and blankets to the homeless people in her city every Thursday on her way to chemotherapy. Ella is getting treatment for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on the nerves. But to take her mind off her year-long treatment, she has decided to focus on making other people happy.
You can watch an inspiring video about Ella’s story and learn how you can help her raise money for neurofibromatosis research on her Facebook page here.
As always, we ask for your suggestions for our next RAK. Do you know someone who is doing random acts of kindness? Let us know!
Random Act of Kid-ness: Legos for Leukemia
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Louisville, KY where 8 year old Aiden Johnson and his family are in charge of their local chapter of Legos for Leukemia. The organization was started in 2009 by Christian Flanders in Denver, CO to honor the memory of his father, and “as a way to give kids fighting cancer and other life threatening diseases a fun and creative way to deal with not so fun days that include chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.” Legos take chemotherapy off the minds of children with Leukemia, like Aiden, who calls himself a Lego Master. Aiden’s mom says:
“It has taken his mind off the fact that he has cancer. It really has made a difference in the way treatments go. The long days and the long nights, we come in and we’re prepared. We have Legos and we’re ready to be here for a week.”
Because Aiden loves Legos so much and wants other children with cancer to experience the same joy he does, he and his family decided to head the Legos for Leukemia chapter at Kosair Children’s Hospital. People can donate new unopened Lego sets at drop off locations all over the area. So far, Aiden’s family has collected 50 Lego sets, but they still need many more.
We think this is such a great cause and are inspired by Aiden’s kindness. To read more about this story and to find out how to donate Legos, click here.
Random Act of Kid-ness: Saving His Family After a Car Crash
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Mesa, Arizona, where 10 year old Bradley Mitchell saved his family after they were involved in a car crash. After their car rolled down an embankment, Bradley helped his
siblings out of the car and performed CPR on his mom, who was unconscious. Local firefighters presented Bradley with a certificate and a firefighter helmet in honor of his bravery. One of the firemen said:
“You’re a hero, buddy. For anyone to do what you did would really be something, but for a 10-year-old? It’s just remarkable.”
We couldn’t agree more! Read (and watch) more about the story here.
Random Act of Kid-ness: Saving Mom From a Dinner Explosion
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us all the way from Kent, England, where 8 year old Ella Rake saved her mom from severe burns after a microwavable dinner exploded in her face. After the explosion, Ella 
immediately called for an ambulance, started a cold shower, and told her mom to wrap her burns in plastic wrap. The paramedics told Ella that she saved her mom from permanent scarring due to the care she provided. Ella said:
“We have just learnt about burns, so that’s how I knew what to do. When the ambulance arrived the man told my mum I had done the right thing.”
Read more about Ella and another time she helped her mom Vicky Patmore here.
Random Act of Kid-ness: A Flash Mob to Feel Better
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Mandeville, Louisiana, where 800 elementary school students (and their teachers) broke out in a flash mob to cheer up their school’s Vice Principal, Tara Dragon Hernandez. Tara’s 1o month old son Grayson was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer, so she took a leave of absence from her job to care for Grayson.
Seven-year-old student Jordan Sturiale said:
“It was for Ms. Dragon because her baby wasn’t feeling good and she was sad and the baby had to go to the hospital.”
Read more about Tara, Grayson, and see a video of the flashmob here.
Have you done something recently to cheer someone up? Let us know! You could be next week’s Random Act of Kid-ness!
P.S. If you, too, like to break out in song and dance, we have a secret for you.
Random Act of Kid-ness: Paintings that Pay Off (Medical Bills)
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness comes to us from Missouri, where 3 year old Liam Myrick has started to sell his 
paintings to help pay for his parents’ $500,000 medical bills.
Liam was diagnosed with stage-four Neuroblastoma in July, and his sister battled with cancer the year before. Now, Liam wants to help his parents with their financial burden by using the energy he has to paint. His parents are auctioning Liam’s work on Facebook to subsidize the medical bills.
Liam’s mom Shawna says,
“He doesn’t care about what’s going to happen ten minutes from now. He cares about the moment.”
What an inspiring story of one kid trying to make the world a better place for his family. Read more about Liam’s story and how you can buy one of his paintings here.
Random Act of Kid-ness: Karma’s World
This week’s Random Act of Kid-ness features a new website that promotes good deeds among children. The website Karma’s World was developed by Ludacris and his 10 year old daughter, Karma Bridges, as a way for children to have fun while learning about kindness, honesty, and manners. Ludacris says:
We wanted the site to be educational, fun and full of music that all kids will enjoy, but we also wanted it to teach kids more than just academics. The site touches on subjects like, the rewards of hard work and importance of learning manners as well as the idea that doing good deeds for others will bring good into your life – which is the meaning of the word Karma.
We love when parents and their kids work together on projects to make this world a better place! Check out the website, and let us know what you think! For more information, click here.
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“Once you begin to acknowledge random acts of kindness – both the ones you have received and the ones you have given – you can no longer believe that what you do does not matter.” -Dawna Markova
