Four-year-old gives back to IWK through bracelet sales

By Melanie Jackson
msjacksonpei@gmail.com

Thanks to four-year old Autumn Newell of Cardigan, the children’s playroom at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax just got a little more 
playful.

Autumn, who has been ‘kicking cancer’s butt’ since being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last year, recently handed over a cheque for $1,325 to playroom staff at the hospital that provides care to women, children and youth from across the Maritimes.
Autumn’s mother, Stacey Newell, said IWK staff was surprised with the amount of the cheque.

“They were all clapping and jumping up and down because I don’t think they expected to get so much from it,” Mrs Newell said.

The daughter of Stacey and Donnie Newell raised the money through her “Kick Cancer in the Butt” bracelet sales, a slogan Autumn came up with while receiving treatment.

“We were in Halifax one day and she goes, ‘I’m going to kick cancer in the butt’ and I recorded her saying it,” Mrs Newell said, adding that the phrase gave her the idea to make the bracelets.

In just over six months, Autumn’s family and friends helped sell more than 600 of the $2 bracelets, which are orange in colour, the same shade as the ribbons for leukemia.

Mrs Newell said it was a way for the family to give back to the hospital’s playroom that made Autumn’s time there a little more comfortable.

“That’s the only thing that kept her happy every time she went there,” Mrs Newell said.

“Anytime she went there to have a procedure done she’d ask, ‘Can I go to the playroom?’, so I’d use that as a kind of reward. She’s was always happy there. It didn’t matter what she just had done, she loved going there.”

Mrs Newell said the playroom offers crafts, dress up clothes, toys, games and even hosts themed parties. The children also have regular visits from clowns, therapy dogs, as well as other volunteers who spend one-on-one time playing with the children.

“She loved the volunteers and always looked forward to seeing certain ones,” Mrs Newell said.

Mrs Newell said the IWK playroom staff asked Autumn what she would like them to spend the money on.

“She likes crafts, so they said they’d think of her when they buy the stuff.”

Mrs Newell said there are only a few bracelets left, but people are still asking for them.

“If it continues I’ll probably get some more made,” she said.

Mrs Newell said Autumn is feeling the best she’s felt since being diagnosed and has been enjoying her summer.

“She’s doing really well. We’re at the beach and swimming pools and just trying to stay cool.”

Photo: Four-year old Autumn Newell of Cardigan hands over a cheque for $1,325 to Carol Downey, a Child Life Specialist at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. Autumn, who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia last year, donated the funds to the hospital’s playroom where she enjoys doing crafts and spending time with volunteers during her visits to receive treatment.  Submitted photo

First appeared in The Eastern Graphic July 17, 2013