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How one girl is giving a glimmer of hope to children battling cancer
For children battling cancer, insecurity should be the last thing on their minds. Ali Hornung is making sure that it is. Ali, 20, is the founder of the non-profit Glimmer of Hope Foundation helps pediatric cancer patients celebrate their beauty by donating bald American Girl dolls in a wide variety of skin tones.
Ali has helped raise over $60,000 for various childhood illness organizations, as well as donating 24 dolls to nearly every US state. Today, she's helping young girls from around her town of North Kingston feel like princesses.
On August 19th, ten cancer warriors from the New England area will get the chance to participate in a photoshoot honoring their journey and the strength of their friendships with one another.
The inspiring young women will feel as beautiful as the world already sees them thanks to free hair and makeup sessions on set. By partnering with local businesses, the Glimmer of Hope Foundation will also provide gifts, accessories, and a fully catered lunch for the models.
Because gold is the color for Childhood Cancer Awareness, the shoot will take place as the sun sets on Sand Hill Cove Beach in Narragansett. And Ali's making sure these girls will have a special token of their day by surprising them with donated American Girl dolls during the shoot.
Ali, a former Girls' Life intern, has been a childhood cancer advocate since age twelve when she conducted a fundraiser to gift $1,300 to a local family. At seventeen, she won Student of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society after raising over $43,000 in six weeks. We applaud her efforts to help those battling with cancer through her fundraising, advocacy and empowerment.
Along with her partner, 21-year-old Ally DeForge, Ali will continue to expand the Glimmer of Hope Foundation so that they can help children worldwide. Besides the photoshoot, the girls also have a new partnership with Ever Row, a female-owned clothing business, to help raise money for more American Girl dolls. Whatever the duo decides to tackle next, we're sure they'll keep making an incredible impact.
You can learn more about Glimmer of Hope and make a donation at glimmerofhopefoundation.org, and follow them on Instagram @glimmerofhopefdn.
Slider Image: Instagram/Glimmer Of Hope Foundation
POSTED IN LIFE, Get Inspired
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