|
Andrew Manson, 10, shows his mother, Kathy Allen, some papers as his sister, Lexy Allen, 8, looks on. |
By CATHY DYSON
Most 10-year-old boys don't want to get near a tie, but Andrew Manson made his mother buy him one.
He was speaking to adults planning the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk, and he wanted to look serious.
"I'm not joking around," Andrew said, moments before he took center stage. "It's important to raise awareness of this disease."
So the fifth-grader from Stafford County voluntarily wore a white dress shirt and a sky-blue tie with dark stripes.
He held his two-page typed speech in front of him. He told the 35 grown-ups, gathered recently at a Fredericksburg restaurant, about his dream of finding a cure for the disease that caused his great-grandmother so much pain.
Lorraine Skinner "passed away a month before I was born," said Andrew, who attends Margaret Brent Elementary School. "I wish I could have known her. I dedicate my work to her."
Andrew's efforts--and enthusiasm--have impressed adults gathering pledges for the annual walk May 5 at Mary Washington Hospital.
"He came to our first meeting and gave his speech, and peoples' jaws basically dropped," said Roger Carr, chairman of the local walk. "We had no idea that someone his age could have such a passion for something."
Andrew inherited the "passion" from other relatives affected by the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States.
Andrew's great-grandmother suffered with rheumatoid arthritis much of her adult life. Her daughter, Beverly Foster, remembers coming home from school and seeing her lying on the couch, crying.
"She had it really bad," said Foster, who is Andrew's grandmother.
But what hurt her the most was not being able to play with her grandchildren, Foster said.
One of those grandchildren was Kathy Allen, Andrew's mother. When Allen was pregnant with Andrew, Skinner was thrilled to know her first great-grandson was coming into the world.
"If my mother were here today, I know how proud she would be" of Andrew, Foster said, smiling at the freckled-nosed boy.
Andrew participated in arthritis walks from the time he could sit in a stroller. He's the third generation in his family to get involved.
But no one expected the boy to form his own team of children--called "Lorraine's Little Angels"--or to raise money year-round. Andrew constantly asks friends and strangers for donations for both research and a children's table he'll sponsor at the annual walk.
"I think it's important for kids to get involved in things like this," Andrew said.
Sponsors wish other young people would join him.
"If anybody thinks that kids can't make a difference," Carr said, "they're absolutely wrong."
Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425|
The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk is one of 15 held in Virginia to raise money for arthritis research. The disease affects 46 million Americans--six times the population of Virginia.
So far, 21 local teams have signed up to walk the 5K course, which also has a one-mile option. The event begins at 8 a.m. May 5, at Mary Washington Hospital. Awards are given to the team and individual raising the most money. This year's goal is $35,000. arthritiswalkfredericksburg. kintera.org |
|
Andrew Manson is an organized 10-year-old who has to "get on" his mother, Kathy Allen, to be the same way. He regularly leaves notes reminding her to pick up items he needs for the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk, such as a team banner and T-shirts.
He chastises her when she doesn't put things in the right place. "Now, does that go there?" he asks, telling her she won't be able to find the item the next time. He makes sure his message about arthritis research is delivered. He's given a couple speeches to groups raising money for the arthritis walk. On the back of the paper he holds up--the side the audience sees--he's written: "Andrew's speech. Making a Difference."
|
