While most children are spending their summer at the pool or the park, three girls have spent their days raising money for charity, but instead of celebrating their last big fund raiser, they are learning a hard lesson.
The girls' last major fund raiser was on Monday but it started with an idea three years ago.
"We just decided to do a sale, and I said 'How about it goes to Children's Hospital to help the sick kids that need help,'" said Carlie Howard. "I had a blood disease when I was little and spent a few years weekly there."
The Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital was the home away from home for Howard's friend, Brynn Schmidt.
"It was pretty serious at the time, but Children's, you couldn't ask for a better place than that clinic," Schmidt's mother Michelle McJessy said. "They took care of her, they took care of the parents, they knew exactly what to do."
Now a happy, healthy 11-year-old, Schmidt wanted to help the clinic that helped her.
"Since they did so much for me I just wanted to give back to them and say thank you," Schmidt said.
Schmidt, her best friend, Howard, and Schmidt's younger sister, Maddie Schmidt, started calling themselves Children's Hospital Helpers.
The trio have dedicated the last three years to raising money for the hospital.
They held garage sales, lemonade stands and car washes, McEntyre reported.
A bake sale at the girls' pool was to be their last for the summer.
The group raised about $300, but their celebration was short-lived after they realized their cash drawer was gone.
"We were all crying because we were really looking forward to giving it to the hospital," Schmidt said. "It's just sad that someone would take that."
The girls called it a tough lesson and said while they are discouraged, they are not defeated.
"We've already worked so hard and I still want to give back to the clinic," Schmidt said.
You can donate to Nationwide Children's Hospital and dedicate your donation to the Hospital
Helpers, by writing them in the tribute line.
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