Girl leads toy drive for cancer kids

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - An 8-year-old Belen girl is on a mission to help bring joy to kids with cancer this Christmas.

Mikaylah Lewis said she decided a few months ago she wanted to help kids after talking with her mother, who herself had cancer as a child. So Mikaylah held a toy drive for kids with cancer.

"I just felt bad for them that they were in the hospital and didn't deserve to have cancer," Mikaylah said.

The Belen 3rd grader has been busy gathering toys every since.

She contacted the Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico to help distribute the toys.

Director Cezanne Elias said it's incredible an 8-year-old came up with this idea on her own.

"We were really excited about Mikaylah's enthusiasm, her spirit of giving at her very young age," Elias said. "I think it really instills a sense of hope that even at a young age when you have an idea and want to give to others, it inspires those around you."

The Children's Cancer Fund helps bring Christmas to about 50 New Mexico families every year. And while the fund says Mikaylah's help this year is tremendous and the 8 year old has already gathered quite a few toys, she needs many more.

She and her family have organized several toy drives in the coming month. They include:

• Nov. 14, 10 a.m. -- Toy run from Thunderbird Harley-Davidson on Alameda Boulevard NE in Albuquerque to Harla May's in Belen.
• Nov. 14, 9:30 p.m. -- Benefit Concert at Elliott's Restaurant, 10200 Corrales Rd N.W.
• Nov. 21 -- Table set up at Wal-Mart in Belen for donations.
• Dec. 12, noon-4 p.m. -- Benefit at Renegade Classics, 4300 Paseo del Norte NE, Suite A in Albuquerque. Donated toys can be dropped off Nov. 11-Dec. 12. Every donation gets a raffle ticks; drawing to be held 3 p.m. on Dec. 12.

Donations will also be taken at the Los Lunas and Los Chavez fire departments. Monetary donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank under the "Christmas with Chemo" account

For more information call the Children's Cancer Fund of NM at 243-3618.