Haley, my niece and daughter of Mike Marston, one of our finest over here at Plumb Signs for 20 years and counting, was diagnosed with Leukemia this year. Her strength, courage, and optimistic personality is a true inspiration to me, an example of how to tackle life from such a young person.
Mary Bridge leukemia patient raising money for cancer research
While 10-year-old Haley Marston is at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy, she passes the time playing Minecraft, building LEGO Friends and making bracelets.
The bracelets are more than a child’s craft project. The elastic string and translucent beads are helping raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.
So far Haley's bracelets have raised almost $4,000.
Haley was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on May 21, 2015.
"It was such a shock at first, we didn't know what to do," mom Kressent Marston said.
Haley knew what she wanted to do: raise money for leukemia research. So did her aunt Jenny Howe.
Haley started exploring ideas for crafts to sell to raise money and Howe signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program.
To help raise money for Howe's Team in Training fundraising, Haley made 120 beaded bracelets with her twin sister Karys, her cousins, mom and aunt. Marston and Howe shared photos on Facebook to sell the bracelets for $5.
The bracelets sold out the same day. The group was surprised by the outpouring of support, so they ordered more beads and string and set to work making more bracelets.
The Marine Corps Marathon is approaching for Howe. Meanwhile, Haley is facing two more years of cancer treatment and the group just finished making its 800th bracelet.
Making bracelets has been a good way to pass the time in the hospital, but Marston says the jewelry is a small token of her family's larger mission.
"We want to raise awareness. Before this we had no idea about childhood cancer," Marston said. "We want to do whatever we can so my grandkids don't have to know about childhood cancer."
Haley likes raising awareness for leukemia but is happiest at the bracelet work parties.
"I like making the bracelets because it gets everyone together," she said. 