Young Girl's Death Inspires Thousands to Give, Fulfill Her Goal

Family and friends remember Rachel Beckwith as a very caring and generous girl who wanted to help others. Before her June 12th birthday, Beckwith told those she loved that she only wanted gifts in the form of donations to be made to Charity Water to help bring clean water to an African village. She wanted to raise $300 by her birthday. The 9-year-old eventually reached that goal but was not alive to see it.


Beckwith was killed in a 13-car accident on Interstate 90 in Bellevue, Wash., last week, reports the Seattle Times.

Upon hearing about her untimely death, many people reached into their pockets and donated to the charity via the young girl’s fundraising page: mycharitywater.org/rachels9thbirthday.

By Thursday night 17,317 people had donated, amounting $593,819.

According to the Times, Rachel had only raised $220 by her birthday and closed her fundraising page. Ryan Meeks, a pastor from her church, had the page reopened to help achieve the young girl’s dream of helping people. The Times reports that by Tuesday night Rachel’s goal had “been surpassed more than 1,000 times over.”

"I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday," Rachel wrote on her page. "And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations."



Rachel’s mother, Samantha, posted on the website Monday night: I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity!

I know Rachel is smiling!

Contributors are allowed to post comments when they contribute to the cause and many took the time to express their sympathy for the family as well as their awe for such an inspiring little girl. One woman wrote:

“Rachel, you are a sweet little angel that has touched more lives than imaginable.”

According to The Lookout, Rachel was on life support after the accident. Her church is raising money to help the family pay their medical bills.

So hard to have excuses these days.

A Winnipeg-based, legally blind commercial photographer is the winner of the CNIB Eye Remember national photography competition.
Tara Miller, 39, was the only legally blind photographer among the five finalists and she was the top vote-getter in the national public voting contest that ended June 30.
The CNIB held the contest to promote public awareness of glaucoma.
Miller was born with congenital rubella syndrome — which leads to cataracts — and developed glaucoma at 16. her eye sight deteriorated to the point where she was legally blind at 33.
Miller’s winning photo — a shot of a lightning storm over a field of sunflowers at sunset, called Fortuitous Twilight, was taken last August between Headingley and Starbuck. The same photo won best in show and best colour print at the 2011 Red River Exhibition Photography Salon.
She’s been working as a commercial photographer for three years.
"Yes, I’m legally blind but I want to take that extra step and be known as that legally blind commercial photographer," Miller said. "I like the idea of recognition."
Miller and her husband operate 100 Acre Woods Photography.

heroes

"Unfortunately we will never meet or hear about most of the world's biggest heroes".outlived
Watch "Secret Millionaire"if you get a chance.

speechless

Air Traffic Controller skills make for a happy landing.

Good apples

Chris Nestor wants Toronto commuters to know that not all TTC operators are bad apples.

In the wake of several recent photos of TTC drivers caught napping and texting on the job, Nestor lauded the TTC subway conductor who went beyond the call of duty on Family Day to show his seven-year-old niece, Madeline Diecidue, and four-year-old nephew, Matthew Diecidue, how he operates the subway train.

“It was the very first time my nephew and niece ever rode a subway and this conductor really went out of his way to show them the control panel and how he operated the train,” said Nestor, 48.

Matthew and Madeleine had the opportunity to thank TTC subway operator Keith Butler in person Wednesday.

“He was extremely kind to the children. We just wanted to say thank you for being such a great conductor, and allowing the kids to see the control panel and have their picture taken with him to commemorate the kids’ first subway ride,” Nestor said.

Butler, who has been employed by the TTC for 18 years, said he’s always happy to show kids how a subway train works.

“I have a nine-year-old son myself and he loves trains, so I know kids and trains go hand-in-hand,” Butler said.

“I do it all the time and the kids get a real kick out of it when they get to blow the horn,” Butler said.

Nestor and his nephew and niece rode the subway from Kipling Station to the Eaton Centre.

“It was like riding in a bat cave,” said an elated Matthew said.