NEW: Abby Kelley Foster Students Raise Money for Brain Cancer Victim

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The students in the National Honor Society at Worcester's Abby Kelley Foster Charter School came together to organize a fundraiser for a young child diagnosed with brain cancer, raising $600 and the little girl's spirits.

According to a traditional Japanese story, which is told in a children’s book, "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes," by Eleanor Coerr, 1,000 origami cranes can grant a wish to their owner. A member of Abby Kelley Foster Charter School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society, Steve Takahashi, knew of the tale and set out to use his own origami skills to make 1,000 cranes to grant a wish for someone with cancer.

Along with NHS Chapter President Nicole Goncalves, and with the guidance of the two club advisors, Carolyn Rousseau and Judith Luber-Narod, Takahashi decided to have the club help complete the task. Goncalves, a dancer, knew the ideal recipient of the wish, a 7-year-old ballerina with the terrible diagnosis of medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. The girl’s mother asked that her name not be mentioned.

After a month of folding, the task was completed last week and the students “sold” rights to each crane for a donation of 50 cents for a small crane and $1 for a large crane, raising $600 to grant the ballerina’s wish for an iPad.

Even as the last cranes were being folded, the club was informed that the ballerina’s cancer is now in remission.

The cranes and the iPad were given to the ballerina at a special ceremony on Feb. 4 in conjunction with "Think Pink Night," a nationwide cancer awareness program held at Abby Kelley’s varsity basketball game. She received a standing ovation of support from those in attendance. The remaining funds will go the Make a Wish Foundation.