Community Corner
Whiz Kid: Micky Wehrle
Micky Wehrle asks for donations to Ucan2 Lifestraw program, in lieu of gifts for his 8th birthday, and raises $325!
Name: Micky Wehrle
Age: 2nd Grader
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School: Kathleen H. Ryerson Elementary School
Accomplishments: Birthdays are usually filled with fun, friends and gifts. Micky Wehrle had all this at his 8th birthday party in June. But, instead of gifts, Micky requested donations be made to the Ucan2 Lifestraw program and raised $325!
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LifeStraws make it easier and safer for more people in the world to drink clean water. “A LifeStraw is a portable drinking filter that people wear on a string around their necks that enables them to drink from contaminated water sources. Each LifeStraw lasts for a year and costs about $5,” says Ucan2 Founder Brett Leckey’s blog.
“He decided that instead of them bringing presents that he would just ask for donations to Lifestraw,” said Micky’s Mom Alison Wehrle. “He thought it would be a great way to give back and help kids, instead of getting more toys he doesn’t need!”
Key to Awesomeness: Micky didn’t have to think twice about a suggestion from his parents, Alison and Dave Wehrle, to make his birthday party a fundraiser. He decided that he has enough toys and games and that donations to Ucan2 would be the best way for his friends to help him celebrate!
“Micky has always been very generous and a great sharer,” said his mom.
Although he has never met Ucan2 founder Brett Leckey, Micky chose Lifestraw as his birthday charity because he believes “he (Brett) saves some kids from dying with the Lifestraw. If they didn’t have the Lifestraw a lot of kids would be dying.”
He learned about Ucan2 and the Lifestraw program in Sunday school, as well as at Ryerson Elementary School.
“I heard about it (Lifestraw program) and I thought it would be a good idea to help kids in Africa that have bad water,” said Micky. “It we didn’t have Lifestraw then kids would end up dying because they wouldn’t have clean water to drink.”
Micky says he is thinking of doing the same kind of fundraiser next year! “I’m kind of happy that my mom and dad came up with the fundraiser and I thought of Lifestraw.”
