Long Valley Teen Receives National Honor For Helping Sick Kids

LONG VALLEY, N.J. – Zach Rice has accomplished an incredible amount and helped more people than he can count.

And he’s only 13.

The Long Valley Middle School student took his achievements to the next level this past week, being name among 10 middle and high school students nationally who’ve given back to their community in some form and honored by the Prudential Spirit of Community Award program.

Rice and the nine others were honored in Washington D.C. this past weekend, where the Long Valley native won $1,000 for being the state winner, $5,000 for becoming a national winner, and another $5,000 for his charity to go along with a trophy for Long Valley Middle School.

See related: Youth’s Painful Journey An Inspiration To ‘Distract’ Ill Kids

So what exactly did Rice do to earn so many accolades?

As previously reported in Long Valley Patch, Rice overcame a major obstacle a few years ago, when he was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the hip, requiring multiple surgeries and hospital stays at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown.

During those hospital stays, Rice learned that time can drag as a patient, and boredom can set in rather quickly. So he decided, now that he was on the mend, to raise funds and supply each room in the hospital with its own gaming system so young patients could pass the time.

In doing so, Rice kick started the Action For Distraction 5K program, which will have its fourth annual event May 21 in Morris County. To date, Action for Distraction has raised more than $50,000 for the cause.

Find out more about Action for Distraction and how to register for this year’s event here. Learn more about Rice and his Prudential Spirit of Community Award here.

Photo credit: Shannon Rice