For their birthdays, many young boys ask for the newest toy or video game. Seven-year-old Shane Bernier's birthday wish is to break a world record.
Bernier, of Ontario, Canada, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 5 years old. He experienced a relapse last June after 108 weeks of treatment, according to his official Web site.
For his eighth birthday on May 30, he hopes to break the world record for the most cards received, which is currently set at 350 million. Tonight, students at Ohio University have the chance to help Bernier reach his goal.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Wray Seminar room on South Green, students will lend their creativity to make cards for Bernier. Residence Life is sponsoring the event and will provide pizza and all materials.
Wray complex's service partner is the American Cancer Society, and Wendy Rogers, the complex resident director, said that it has taken on many cancer-related service projects and fund-raisers. Bernier's birthday wish corresponds with this cause.
We're going to help Shane make his wish come true
Rogers said.
Heidi Bennington, a senior organizational communication major, had the idea for the event. She first read about Bernier in an e-mail from a friend and later watched his video on YouTube. It was his story and simple wish that pushed her to get involved.
The only thing this little boy wants at the age of 8 years old is birthday cards she said. It's just such a little thing and it touched me.
Bennington said one of the reasons she planned the event was to get the word out to those at the university. She said that she hopes those unable to attend will support Bernier's wish.
My goal was just that everyone I had contact with would take five minutes out of their day and send this little boy a card
she said.
For more information, visit Bernier's official Web site at www.shaneswish.com.
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Amanda Wilcosky
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