V’ville Chain Links Club inspired to help boy with rare skin disorder
In the weeks leading up to the winter break, most middle school students spend their time wondering what kinds of presents will await them underneath the Christmas tree. However, at Voorheesville Middle School, a group of students have decided that this year they will be on the giving side of the holiday.
Spurred by local media coverage, students of Voorheesville Middle School’s Chain Links Club have decided to promote a clothing drive in the month of December for a young boy afflicted with a rare skin disorder.
The boy, Randy Saunders of Greenwich, has a rare skin disorder called ichthyosis, which causes his skin to grow three times faster than normal human skin. . The result, according to Randy’s father, Rick Saunders, is dry, constantly flaking skin. His parents have to bathe him sometimes up to three times a day in oil to help his skin retain moisture.
The grease on Randy’s skin takes its toll on his wardrobe, making the clothing useless after a few uses. When the students of Voorheesville Middle School called the Saunders’ to see what they could do to help, Randy’s constant need of new clothing was the first thing to come to mind.
It’s awesome, it really is, said Rick Saunders of the clothing drive being held for Randy.
The students of the Chain Links Club said they were particularly inspired by Randy’s refusal to allow his rare condition to define his outlook on life.
Speaking of Randy’s positive attitude, Rachel Goldberg, an eighth-grader and member of the club, said `It’s inspiring for a boy to live like Randy and not be upset, but to be appreciative of life.`
Carlee Nussbaum, also in eighth grade, said, `When we saw pictures of him, he was playing with friends, like a normal kid.`
The Chain Links Club was started in the middle school in October, after the school was visited by a group from an organization called Rachel’s Challenge, which was born out of one of the most horrific events to ever occur in an American school ` the Columbine High School shootings.
Before becoming the first victim of the shooters, Rachel Scott wrote an essay titled `My Ethics, My Code of Life.` In the essay. she displayed her values of trust, compassion and kindness. She said, `I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far an act of kindness could go.`
Inspired by Rachel’s vision, the organization Rachel’s Challenge visits businesses, schools and universities across the country to spread educate people about Rachel’s ideals.
The movement caught on at Voorheesville Middle School, where upon entering the school, one is greeted by a large banner stating `I accept Rachel’s Challenge,` which is signed by dozens of students.
The students of the middle school have decided to take the challenge a step further by forming the Chain Links club. When describing the goals of the club, member Emily Cole echoed Rachel’s message by stating, `It’s a club that promotes kindness.`
Among the first projects the club undertook was writing letters referred to by Cole as `Targets of Kindness.` The goal of these letters was to extend an act of kindness to people who may normally be overlooked. In the world of middle school youths, the primary targets of these letters were the hardworking, albeit often overlooked, bus drivers.
The clothing drive for Randy is a more recent, more ambitious project undertaken by the Chain Links club. When asked why they chose a clothing drive as a means to help Randy, the girls recalled hearing of Randy’s need to bath in oil twice a day to keep his skin moisturized.
`Since he wears clothes over oil, he can only wear clothes 12 times. It gets really expensive,` said Carlee Nussbaum.
The students of the Chain Links Club were also impressed with the selflessness shown by their fellow classmates.
`It’s nice for people to donate their own clothes for Randy,` said Goldberg.
Wayne Manchester, the teacher supervising the club, commented on how wholeheartedly the idea of Rachel’s Challenge has been embraced by the students participating in the club.
`The whole idea is to start a chain reaction of kindness. I’m inspired on the focus the club has given to Randy,` said Manchester.
Manchester went on to say that the club has collected $250 in addition to the many different articles of clothes.
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, after the school day has ended and the holiday break has begun, the students of the Chain Links Club will personally deliver the clothes and money they have collected to Randy Saunders.
`When we see him on the 23rd, I am looking forward to his reaction ` to know that kids hours away were thinking of him,` said Cole.“