Teen ‘Sticks it to Cancer’ with Craft Collection

Something as simple as a sticker can make all the difference in the world to a child undergoing cancer treatments.

And Madeline Lewis, 13, of Horsham, knows that firsthand. Madeline, a finalist in the National American Miss pageant–which is slated for Aug. 10 and 11 in Harrisburg–took inspiration from a trying family time and used it to help sick kids at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“My little baby cousin was diagnosed with leukemia over the summer a year ago, a week after her second birthday,” Madeline said. “It was kind of harsh on the family.”

While undergoing treatment at CHOP, Madeline’s father, Dan Lewis, said it was photos of his 2-year-old niece sitting with art therapists at CHOP that gave Madeline the idea to start an art and crafts collection drive to help kids like her cousin.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg,” Mr. Lewis said of the six boxes of supplies collected through Hatboro-Horsham schools and the community at large. “We’re trying to get a lot more." 

Madeline, through Sticking it to Cancer, has been working for the last several months trying to fulfill CHOP’s wish list for items ranging from crayons and colored pencils to paint, yarn, modeling clay and stickers. She will deliver donations to CHOP on Friday.

She spearheaded the collection drive in conjunction with the upcoming pageant, which will see the Keith Valley Middle School eighth-grader compete against 600 other girls her age.

Madeline’s secret weapon–besides her big heart–is dancing. A dancer with Center Stage Dance Academy, Madeline has been practicing and perfecting her craft for the last 11 years. 

For the pageant, Madeline said she’s planning to perform a ballet/lyrical.

“I’ve danced in front of a lot of people and I’ve talked with large crowds too,” Madeline said, adding that she’s not worried about having stage fright.

Her drive, besides training for the talent portion of the competition, is to continue spreading awareness and seek help for kids battling cancer. Her collection campaign, inspired by her art-loving cousin, is the beginning.

“She’s doing perfectly fine,” Madeline said of the tot. “She passed all the hard stuff.”

How you can help

If you’d like to donate to Madeline Lewis’ Sticking it to Cancer arts and crafts collection drive to benefit kids seeking cancer treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, click here for more information.