A 9-YEAR-OLD’S BIRTHDAY WISH

I was conducting my daily yahoo news search (for some reason I’m addicted to yahoo news and I religiously open my yahoo page daily).  Today I came across one of the most touching stories i have ever read.The story of Nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith who died after a car accident last week Wednesday. While her death is very sad, the legacy she left behind is one that is truly amazing.

Rachel celebrated her 9^th Birthday on the 2^nd of June and she had a very interesting birthday wish. She requested that no one give her a birthday gift, instead cash donations should be given  for the non profit charity: water organisation (an organisation set up to provide clean drinking water in some African communities).

Rachel apparently found out about this charity, and decided to use her birthday to raise her a cash donation as her contribution to helping those in need. In her words she said "I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday, and why? Because they don’t have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations."

Her goal was to raise $300 by the time her birthday came, while she didn’t achieve this, she was certainly close as she was able to raise $220, and thereafter she shut down the page.  Unfortunately Rachel was involved in car accident that claimed her life just about a month after her birthday. Rachel’s death came as a shock to her parents,  but the buzz her page created has given them a reason to smile.

After her death her Pastor revived the donation page she earlier opened,  and publicized it on the churches website. Today, this has created not just a buzz but more than 9000 contributors totalling up to $368,000.  Rachel's goal has definitely been surpassed more than 1,000 times over. As news of Rachel's cause spread, more and more people found and donated to Rachel's page, many leaving personal comments about how touched they were by her selflessness.

Many questions came to mind as I read this story. One thing that caught my attention was her age, Rachel was just nine. At nine am sure I was looking forward to my birthday party, the cake, numerous gifts, being the centre of attraction etc. That Rachel could at such a young age, be so concerned and compassionate about people who are miles away from her and also  decide to sacrifice her birthday for it is outstanding.

I am definitely touched by this selfless act of compassion from a little child and I know she must be smiling from heaven as she sees the ocean of love and donations her request has prompted.

But much more than that this story goes to show how one tiny act can bring about the greater good of others. We see needs all around us every day, what do about it, how do we try to help? Sometimes it seems we think we need to have a billion naira to make a change. But as we have seen, one step, a little faith, one seemingly insignificant act, can make a difference.

Rachel has done her part and even though she passed on at the age of nine her impact is phenomenal.

Rachel's mother Samantha Paul posted on Monday that she was in "awe" of the flood of support. "In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope," she wrote.

Let’s also begin to impact our world by the tiny acts of compassion we carry out. There is so much to be done and there is so much more we can do. Rachel simply had a birthday wish, what is your wish?

Yours  in Love

Toyin Fajj

28^th July, 2011