Kylie's Aloha Campaign
Donation protected
For those of you who don't know my 14 year old niece, Kylie, she is a remarkable teenager who has overcome multiple challenges in her life. Kylie has always been interested in playing sports and being part of a team; however, due to a condition called Strabismus, Kylie's eye's don't work correctly together. Misdiagnosed by multiple doctors and mis-prescribed glasses, Kylie tried multiple sports but had trouble with coordination and depth perception. Despite surgery to correct the issue, Kylie's condition was not fully resolved and she continued to struggle with sports.
Going into her Freshmen year in high school, several of Kylie's friends joined the marching band. On a whim, a friend asked Kylie to help her carry the banner onto the field during a summer practice. She cautiously accepted and after a few practices, Kylie ended up LOVING it. She is now officially a member of the marching band, is engaged with friends and at school. Most importantly, Kylie knows what it feels like to be a member of a team.
In March 2020, the marching band is traveling to Hawaii to perform in a marching band competition. The competition is held once every four years on Oahu and this will be Kylie's only chance to attend with her team. The total cost of the trip is $2,000 per person. Kylie lives with her mother who is a single parent and they struggle to make ends meet. When I asked Kylie about the trip, she told me that she would be working during the winter to try and cover the cost of the trip but she didn't think she would have enough money by the deadline.
From Kylie, "The reason I joined the band in the first place was to be closer to my friends over the summer and then I realized how much I loved it. The trip will be so much more than just the competition, although I'm really excited about that. We are going to visit Pearl Harbor and see the Dole Pineapple Plantation. My goal is to earn $500 over the winter towards paying for the trip and my aunt is helping me raise the rest. I would really love the opportunity to go."
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
- John Wooden
Going into her Freshmen year in high school, several of Kylie's friends joined the marching band. On a whim, a friend asked Kylie to help her carry the banner onto the field during a summer practice. She cautiously accepted and after a few practices, Kylie ended up LOVING it. She is now officially a member of the marching band, is engaged with friends and at school. Most importantly, Kylie knows what it feels like to be a member of a team.
In March 2020, the marching band is traveling to Hawaii to perform in a marching band competition. The competition is held once every four years on Oahu and this will be Kylie's only chance to attend with her team. The total cost of the trip is $2,000 per person. Kylie lives with her mother who is a single parent and they struggle to make ends meet. When I asked Kylie about the trip, she told me that she would be working during the winter to try and cover the cost of the trip but she didn't think she would have enough money by the deadline.
From Kylie, "The reason I joined the band in the first place was to be closer to my friends over the summer and then I realized how much I loved it. The trip will be so much more than just the competition, although I'm really excited about that. We are going to visit Pearl Harbor and see the Dole Pineapple Plantation. My goal is to earn $500 over the winter towards paying for the trip and my aunt is helping me raise the rest. I would really love the opportunity to go."
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
- John Wooden
Organizer and beneficiary
Carri Anne
Organizer
Gig Harbor, WA
Reid Ekberg
Beneficiary