Eight-year-old Amelia Meyer would like all of us to help her clean up the planet beginning in Kansas City parks on February 27. She is battling brain cancer, and this is her “Make A Wish” request.
This Saturday, cleanup events will be held in four parks, and Kansas City Mayor Sly James will present Amelia with a mayoral proclamation at the Swope Park cleanup.
When Amelia was told she was chosen as a Make A Wish recipient, she could have asked for something big – like a family trip to Disney World or a computer. But according to her mother, Jill Meyer, Amelia wasn’t interested in any of those gifts. She wanted to make a difference in the world, and she was concerned about all the litter and trash around the city. She and her grandmother have been taking regular walks and picking up trash ever since Amelia had surgery and began treatment.
“Amelia has been so incredibly brave, tough and positive through all of this,” said Amelia’s mother. “I always thought she was a pretty awesome kid, but now I am in absolute awe of her. She amazes me with her wise beyond her years outlook, and it makes me very happy when she has those silly eight-year-old moments. She has never been a kid who has asked for much and getting stuff doesn’t really excite her, but this is something that does.”
Hundreds of volunteers are expected to participate in Kansas City and across Missouri to help with Amelia’s cleanup. Make-A-Wish, a non-profit organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, is coordinating the events. The Kansas City Fire Department and Helzberg Diamonds are providing volunteers. Bridging the Gap will have supplies at each location to make it easier for volunteers to pick up trash and recycling. At the Swope Park location, the public and volunteers will be able to drop off their used electronics, including computers, TVs, cell phones and printers, for recycling by Surplus Exchange.
“I think her desire to make a positive impact on the world sets her apart from most other children her age, from most other children of any age, and from most of us at any age,” said Dr. Maxine Hetherington, the pediatric oncologist who cares for Amelia at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Amelia hopes others are inspired throughout Missouri to join in cleanup efforts. Volunteers can post photos and watch for updates on social media @MakeAWishMo using the hashtag #AmeliasWish.
Help clean-up parks & recycle your old electronics
The public is invited to volunteer at Saturday’s events:
9 a.m. Amelia and volunteers wlll begin litter pickup and recycling at Romey Hills Park, NE 101 St., Kansas City, MO.
9:30 a.m. Amelia will join volunteers at New Mark Subdivision, 7820 NW 100th St., Kansas City, MO
10:30 a.m. Volunteers will greet Amelia at Macken Park, 715 East 21st Ave., North Kansas City, MO where she will be presented a certificate for an honor bench to be placed in the park at a future date.
11:45 a.m. Mayor Sly James will present Amelia with a city proclamation at Swope Park, Pavilion #10, 5650 Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO. They will be joined by LuAnn Bott, Make-A-Wish Missouri president and CEO; Pat Duncan, of Helzberg Diamonda who is a Make-A-Wish Missouri Governing Board member; and Beryl Raff, CEO and chairwoman of Helzberg Diamonds. Surplus Exchange will be collecting used electronics for recycling from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Volunteers from Helzberg Diamonds will help with the Swope Park clean up.
Great wish. Let us see what trash I can pick up in the park later today or tomorrow for her wish.