Community Corner

FishHawk Youth Raise Funds for Mother in Need of Kidney Transplant

Between cupcake sales and participation in a softball tournament, FishHawk Ranch youth raised more than $3,600 for resident Devon Carver.

The efforts of an 11-year-old girl combined with a fundraiser by the FishHawk Softball League last weekend netted $3,625 for OperationKidney.

FishHawk Ranch resident Devon Carver said she was grateful for the community's support for her cause, intended to provide financial help to residents needing kidney transplants.

It's a need Carver understands all too well.

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The 34-year-old mother is battling end-stage renal failure. She currently  spends 12 hours a day on dialysis and, without a live kidney donor, she will die.

Well aware of the financial costs facing families of kidney patients, Carver started OperationKidney to raise funds for medical bills and travel expenses.

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However, after telling her own story on Facebook, she began hearing from other residents with kidney failure who are facing financial ruin due to medical bills.

After hearing Carver's story, Maddie Eisenberg, an 11-year-old FishHawk Ranch resident, decided to help. She put together a basket to be auctioned off at bowl-athon fundraiser Oct. 14.

In addition, during the FishHawk Ranch Community Yard Sale Oct. 13, Eisenberg sold cupcakes and hosted an auction for "Reporter for a Day" at WFLA Channel 8.

Her efforts raised $625 for OperationKidney.

Meanwhile, the FishHawk Softball League cancelled its all-star tournament Oct. 13 and, instead, hosted a "One Strike" softball tournament to benefit OperationKidney.

The tournament raised another $3,000 for OperationKidney.

The bowl-athon Oct. 14 wasn't as well-attended as Carver had hoped and not all of the gift baskets donated by residents and businesses for a silent auction were sold. So Carver said she plans to sell them on the OperationKidney Facebook page.

For more information, visit the OperationKidney website.


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