Harding Academy Fifth Grader, Belle Yeagle, Wins Essay Contest to Raise Funds for Alive

Published on February 28, 2023

“Back in December of 2021, my dad passed away because of brain cancer. I was so sad. Soon after, my mom signed me up for a program by a place called Alive Hospice. Not only did I feel better, but also made friendships with the other kids that I will not forget… I know I would have been in a very different place without Alive Hospice.”

 

Each year, Nashville’s Harding Academy holds a school-wide fundraiser (Jump and Hoop it Up) for a local charity. Students write essays competing to support their favorite cause. This year’s winner was fifth grader Belle Yeagle whose essay (see below) won the event’s support for Alive.

Belle’s motivation was very personal. Her father died of cancer and spent his final weeks in Alive’s care. Belle also received grief support services from Alive that connected her to new friends who were also grieving loved ones. Now she’s helping others learn about Alive and raising funds to support these special programs. Belle is hoping to raise as much as possible during Jump and Hoop it Up.

As the only nonprofit hospice provider in Middle Tennessee, Alive goes above and beyond Medicare requirements. Donations like these help support our programs for the community, including $1.5 million given annually for charity care, grief support programs for all the community, grief camps for kids, and free education on end-of-life care. We are currently accepting applications for this summer’s Camp Forget-Me-Not.

We are honored to have had the opportunity to care for the Yeagle family and are grateful to Belle for her support!

 

Jump and Hoop it Up Details

Thursday, March 9.

Jump and Hoop it Up is similar to a walk-a-thon in which students are sponsored for laps, but Harding students jump rope (Pre-4th grade) and play basketball (5th-8th grade).

The event lasts all day and typically raises $8000 to $14,000 for the chosen charity.

 

Essay by Belle Yeagle, Harding Academy Fifth Grade

Alive Hospice

Have you ever lost a deep loved one in your life? Well, then you know how hard it is. Back in December of 2021, my dad passed away because of brain cancer. I was so sad. Soon after, my mom signed me up for a program by a place called Alive Hospice. Not only did I feel better, but also made friendships with the other kids that I will not forget. Alive Hospice is the only non-profit hospice in Middle Tennessee.

A hospice is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of terminally ill patients’ pain. There are many reasons to support Alive Hospice. First, Alive Hospice helps people with terminal illness. Next, Alive Hospice helps the families of people with terminal illness. Finally, they helped my family and many others. These are the reasons I think that Harding’s Jump and Hoop It Up donations should go to Alive Hospice.

The first reason to support Alive Hospice is that they help people with terminal illness. Terminal illness means an end stage disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated. It is also reasonably expected to result in death. Nine out of ten adults would prefer to die in their homes, and Alive Hospice works to make that happen. Alive Hospice has not one but two homelike facilities for people who can’t take care of themselves. Again, Alive Hospice provides a wonderful service to people with terminal illness and that is one of the reasons I think Harding’s Jump and Hoop It Up donations should go to this organization.

The next reason is that Alive Hospice also helps the families of people with terminal illness by providing grief programs and support. Alive Hospice has a sleep away camp called Camp Forget Me Not for children who have lost their mom or dad, or children whose mom or dad has terminal illness. Alive Hospice’s grief center offers a place of comfort for anyone facing a loss in their life. Alive Hospice support is also available to caregivers and family members dealing with a life-limiting illness.

Alive Hospice also has grief counselors that provide individual counseling, host expressive art workshops, teach wellness practices, and facilitate support groups. This is another reason that Harding’s Jump and Hoop It Up donations should go to Alive Hospice. The final reason is that they helped my family and many others.

Coming back to writing this a year later, I know I would have been in a very different place without Alive Hospice. My dad, who is now dead, had brain cancer, which is a terminal illness. He had care from Alive Hospice in his final weeks of life. Alive Hospice provides personalized care for more than 3,600 patients and their families. More than 430 families a day receive Alive Hospice’s help. They offer services for nearly 600 adults and children in Middle Tennessee. This is the final reason why I think the Jump and Hoop It Up donations should go to Alive Hospice.

These are just some of the reasons I think Harding’s Jump and Hoop It Up should support Alive Hospice. Even though not many elementary and middle school students are familiar with this organization or this topic, Alive Hospice helped me and others in so many ways. Alive Hospice helps patients and their families, and they helped my family at a really difficult time in our lives. Let’s help this meaningful organization care for even more patients and their families by giving Harding’s Jump and Hoop It Up donations to Alive Hospice.

Learn more about Alive’s grief camp for youth here: AliveHospice.org/Camps