10-Year-Old Volunteers for Breast Cancer Walk

Ten-year-old Melissa O’Leary, a fifth grader at RJO Intermediate School, is doing something special; she is volunteering for the youth corps for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a cure in Washington D.C. taking place September 23-25.

The tween’s grandmother is a breast cancer survivor. Her mother Tracy has done the 60 mile walk twice.

“My mom told me about the youth corps,” Melissa said. “It’s a great way to help with the walk before I’m old enough to do the walk.” Participants must be 16-years-old to do the walk itself.

 As part of the youth corps, Melissa will be doing whatever is needed to support the walkers. On the first day she will be up at 4 a.m. to greet and cheer the walkers on, provide water and food and help with dinner. She will also participate in a camp show at night where the youth corps will do cheers to entertain participants.

“I think it’ll be a little hard to work,” Melissa said. “But it will be fun helping on the walk.”

Crew members are required to raise $500 for the walk. Melissa has already surpassed that and has raised $625, more than half of her goal of $1,000.

“The youth corps is the only crew required to raise money to participate,” Tracy said. They are required to raise $500. Melissa has already raised $625. Her goal is to raise $1,000.

Melissa is not new to volunteering. She donated her hair to Locks of Love.

“She’s a great kid,” said Melissa's mom and youth corp leader, Tracy O'Leary. “She’s very friendly. She goes out of her way to help. She’s funny and really smart. She’s great to be around.”

To donate go to www.the3day.org, select donate, then select donate to a participant and type in Melissa O’Leary. Click on her name when it shows up at the bottom of the screen, then you will be brought to her donation page.