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LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — When a 13-year-old Laramie resident learned how to make keychains by hand from one of her mother's friends, she immediately thought of a purpose for her newfound hobby.
"I've always wanted to help people," Hadley Koske said. "That got me thinking about the (Meredith and Jeannie Ray) Cancer Center, so I raised about $200 just by making these. I looked at all different hospitals, but I decided it would be better to stay local because I've lived here my whole life."
Hadley's creations are woven keychains in the shape of awareness ribbons sometimes found pinned to a person's collar or stuck to a vehicle. She charges $5 per keychain and chooses the color upon the recipients' requests.
Hadley said she obtains her materials at Walmart or via Amazon.com and has sold roughly 40.
"They take about 30 minutes to make," she said. "I have one that's yellow that stands for 'support the troops.' I also have an autism one. If people want anything they can call the hospital and tell me what color they want."
Hadley's mother, Heather Koske, said her daughter is always looking for a way to help, but upon learning the craft of keychain making, she chose to pursue keychains for a cause.
"She was thinking for a while she wanted to do something to give back," Koske said. "She also plays classical guitar, so we were thinking if she could do something with guitar it would be nice, but my friend taught her how to make these keychains and she went with those. I'm very proud of her."
The Laramie Junior High seventh grader has no plans to pursue any other causes, she said.
"I like how they looked and I just wanted to go with them," Hadley said. "My grandma ordered 10 of them. Later on, I will try something else."
Amy Smith, director of the cancer center at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, said Laramie's youth don't often think to donate directly to the cancer center.
"I absolutely loved it," Smith said. "She showed up one day and you just don't see young girls her age that really want to help and make a difference."
Hadley has received a significant amount of feedback from patients, Smith said.
"It says a lot about Hadley," Smith said. "It just means so much to our breast cancer patients."
At the end of the day, Hadley said she plans to make keychains as long as there is a demand for the hand-woven accessory.
"I just want to help whoever I can," she said.
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Information from: Laramie Boomerang, http://www.laramieboomerang.com
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