Kasey Rupp

United Hebrew

Few people like going door-to-door asking for money, but if that’s what it was going to take to help a little boy with special needs, then Kasey was not going to be deterred.

For about a month, Kasey knocked on neighbor’s doors and contacted the families from the Lafayette High School hockey teams and the Ellisville Olympiad Gymnastics Center hoping to raise the additional money needed to purchase a $4,000 bicycle for an eight-year old with cerebral palsy. Through the donations, Kasey, daughter of Miriam and Gerald Rupp of Wildwood, raised over $1,000.

While helping out in her mother’s office, Kasey befriended this eight-year-old; Miriam is his physical therapist.  He is one of four children, being raised by his mother who could not afford the bicycle.  The mother was able to secure $3,000 in grants, however, unless this special adaptive bike was purchase within a given period, she would have to return the money. “I wanted to help him get the bicycle because everyone should be able to have a bicycle to ride with their sisters, brothers and friends and the cost of bicycles for special need children is a financial burden which most families can’t assume,” said Kasey. At the time, the boy was on a wait list that could take up to two years, but he really needed it as soon as possible to help him recover from a recent surgery and to walk better.

Needless to say, Kasey, a student at Crestview Middle School, was amazed by the very generous donations. “I am proud of myself and really had a great time delivering the bicycle and taking this young man on his first bicycle ride,” she said. Kasey also gave the boy a bicycling shirt to wear. He referred to his bicycle as his fire truck because it is red and he loves firemen. Today, this boy is back walking taller and straighter than ever.

In keeping with her mitzvah project theme, Kasey also volunteered a few days this summer at Camp Independence, a camp for children with cerebral palsy offered through Children’s Hospital.

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Editorial Assistant Elise Krug. For information on sharing your child’s mitzvah project with the community, call Elise at 14-743-3671 or email [email protected].