Preschoolers learn to act on compassion

A group of students from Sunbeam Preschool gather to display the prizes that they received for helping raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. They are front row, from left -- Brityn Fox, Oliver Witt and Amanda Emmerson. Back row, from left -- Lawson Hall, Lily Leigh, Gavin Pytlowany, Sammie Ragan and Alex Krebs. The students raised $1,881 for the hospital this year. Tribune photo/Rayma Silvers

Sunbeam Preschool owner and teacher Marilyn Barker has a contagious condition that has now spread to many of her students in addition to their families.

No, Barker is not afflicted with a debilitating disease, she is combating diseases and helping to inspire hope in the hearts of many.

Barker, her preschoolers and their parents have been collecting money to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee since 1991. However, this year has brought in more funds than in previous years. According to Barker, the most that her students have collected in previous years has been $1,230. This year, however, the students collected an amazing $1,881.01. The total amount of money that Sunbeam Preschool has donated to St. Jude's hospital to date is $11,982.00.

Barker said she believes in St. Jude's mission, adding that they provide an essential service to children who have fallen victim to specific childhood illnesses. According to an informative brochure provided to Barker by St. Jude's, the hospital, which was founded in 1962 by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is the first institution created solely for the purpose of conducting basic and clinical research about tragic childhood diseases.

The information stated that since St. Jude opened its doors, the survival rates of certain cancers has risen.

"Since its inception, St. Jude has developed protocols that have brought survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent to more than 70 percent overall... In 1962, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer was four percent. Today, the survival rate for this once deadly disease is 94 percent thanks to research and treatment protocols developed at St. Jude," the written information said.

Barker said that when she was a child, someone close to her died of cancer, and this loss sparked her interest in collecting money for St. Jude. Since 85.1 percent of all money donated to the hospital is used to fund research or provide treatment, the money that the preschoolers have collected is helping to save lives. According to the St. Jude brochure, the hospital treats all children who need care, regardless of ability to pay.

"St. Jude, which is non-sectarian, treats children without regard to race, religion, creed or ability to pay. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay," the information said.

With a daily operating cost of $1,216,247, which is covered mostly by public contributions, the hospital really relies on the support of people like Barker and her preschool families.

The preschoolers who participated in collecting donations were given rewards by St. Jude's. Barker said that those children who contributed at least $35 were each given a T-shirt. Those who contributed $75 or more were rewarded with a backpack in addition to the T-shirt, and those children who collected $100 or more received the T-shirt, the backpack and a stuffed toy. Barker said preschooler Brityn Fox, who collected $350, brought in the most money this year.

For more information about St. Jude, visit the hospital's online Web site at www.stjude.org.