Volunteer's band-aid drive at Beaumont in Royal Oak providing '16,000 smiles'
Beaumont volunteer on a mission for character-themed band-aids
Eve Collon always appreciated the smiling face looking back at her from the band-aids she got after a blood draw - she went through the process all the time in her early high school years. Now, she's on a mission to give others the same piece of mind during what can be a scary time.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (FOX 2) - Eve Collon is no stranger to a poke from a needle. When she was a freshman, she was diagnosed with a blood disorder, and that meant lots of blood tests.
"So I had a lot of blood draws and they would take different vials and I would also have infusions," she said. "So after that I would be left with a poke, and they would offer me a choice of band-aid so that was always something to look forward to."
It's not a big gesture. But it sparked a little color and joy in her life during a tough time for a teenager.
Now volunteering at Beaumont, Collon has turned her appreciation for cartoon characters and bright colors that adorn some band-aids into something bigger. What was just a "little patch" became "much more symbolic."
After learning those band-aids were only handed out if they're donated, she started a campaign to collect them. It's grown fast.
"I started this project last year and I was able to raise 11,000 and this year I’m a little over 16,000 and that number is still growing," she said.
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On Thursday, Collon donated the band-aids to Beaumont Royal oak in hopes of bringing smiles to pediatric patients.
"When I look at this I’m providing 16,000 smiles to the clinic," she said.
If you'd like to donate as well, email evekate31755@gmail.com. for more information.