Molly Payne
1600kush.com
05/08/2011
Photo by Donna Judd
Pictured from right to left: Hannah Blankenship, Madeline Porter, Madison Alexander, Lane Yaunt, Jaiden Munday and Ciera Nelson. Mini Relayers not pictured: Austin Munday, Kimberly Dooley and Jaelyn Bryant.
(Cushing, Okla.) Hannah Blankenship may only be seven years old, but she is setting the example for children and adults that "to give is better than to receive."
Hannah, a student at Harmony School, is in her second year of 4-H where she has been participating in the Bottle/Bucket Calf Program. Recently she sold her calves - Skippy and Scratchy - and told her parents that instead of keeping the proceeds, she wanted to give her profits to the American Cancer Society in honor of her three-year-old friend Graem who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
Touched by their child's generosity, her parents Chris and Jennifer matched her amount of $50 and yet another friend chipped-in an additional $20 - bringing the donated amount to a grand total of $120.
When asked if she planned to do it again, Hannah gave a definite nod, along with the hope that others will follow her lead.
"I want them to find a cure for Graem," she said softly.
Hannah presented the money to the Mini-Relayers Team at Friday night's Relay for Life event, May 6, 2011.