THURSTON COUNTY –– Layne Staley Johnson, 11, sat quietly at a table, carefully constructing the cards she’s made for weeks for cancer patients helped by the American Cancer Society.
Staley’s community service started a few months back when the leadership of the local Relay For Life of Thurston County put out a call to action for people to make cards for cancer patients, to send cheer and as a reminder of their strength during a difficult journey.
Staley, who goes by her middle name, answered the call and went over and beyond, creating 50 handmade cards each with uplifting quotes, three facts about her and a joke. Then she sealed each card with a sticker. The cards had a variety of different quotes and jokes.
The cards were recently handed out to Relay For Life teams for distribution to cancer patients and caregivers throughout Thurston County. One of the caregivers shared her reaction when she opened a card for her mother who is currently undergoing treatment, saying she knew the person that made the cards is “someone who would change the world.”
When asked what inspired her to make the cards, the soon-to-be sixth grader said simply, “To help people that may have low self-esteem and don’t feel the same as before cancer affected their lives.”
The cards were just the beginning of Staley’s good deeds. Once she started the cards and learned more about the impact she could make, Staley started brainstorming how she could combine activities she loved and make a difference.
She decided to challenge herself, she said, and to learn something new and expand her skateboarding skills. Towards that end, for all of July, she will learn a new skateboarding trick when she receives donations for her American Cancer Society fundraising efforts. A couple of tricks she has on her skateboarding bucket list are kickflips and rock climbs.
“I just never realized she had these thoughts to make such a difference,” said Jenn Johnson, Staley’s mother.
Additionally, to honor her Jenn’s 44th birthday, Staley set a goal of creating 44 chemo kits for patients undergoing chemotherapy. These kits will include chapstick, ginger candies, cards, snacks, gel ice packs and gas cards. She is running her chemo kit drive all of July.
Nichole Woolsey is a resident of the Olympia area and works for the American Cancer Society.
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