November 2015 Beads of Courage Day

What a great Beads of Courage Day! Members worked on beads while Dr. Robert Simmons, Beads of Courage Bead Donation Director and GMS member, welcomed everyone and explained the Beads of Courage program. Children who are undergoing treatment for various illnesses receive a bead for each procedure they have. The bead color represents a particular procedure. When there is a major event, like a surgery or a milestone that has been passed, the child gets to choose an "act of courage" bead. Volunteers (like GMS members) make the special, one-of-a-kind act of courage beads.

This time we had some fresh clay and it sure made a big difference. No conditioning was necessary and the clay was so soft and pliable that we were able to make a lot more beads a lot faster and easier. Every time we have a Beads of Courage Day it is fun to see the enthusiasm and creativity. From mohawk haired beads to fish and puppies and snakes and even a beautiful phoenix, members made a fantastic variety of beads.

Many thanks to all of the volunteers who gave up a pretty Sunday afternoon to make some special beads for some special kids! And many thanks to Dr. Simmons for baking and finishing the beads for us and for coming to help make this event a big success!

Lori Carter

Clay and aprons ready to go

Jaina concentrated on her pheonix bead

Wonderful volunteers making beads

Lots of pretty colors and some mohawk beads

Jaina's fantastic phoenix bead

A prehistoric fish and a trilobite

Beads made by some juniors

Cool football bead

Puppy!

Making beads is fun!

Pretty fish bead

GMS tradition: my trilobites and Jaina's snakes

Even Charles made a funny little face bead!

Puffy lipped puffer fish bead

Some seasonal beads

So pretty!

So many beads!

Volunteers did a great job!

Thank you Dr. Simmons!