Young Gymnast Rallies Her Community to Give Happiness

Sabrina, a nine-year-old competitive gymnast with a big heart, loves learning TikTok dances and giving back to kids who need it most.

Sabrina has always helped those in need because she knows you are never too young to make a difference. In the past, she has collected school supplies and backpacks for kids experiencing homelessness. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, she got creative this year and found another way to give back—by fundraising for Starlight Gowns!

When Sabrina was just five years old, she was treated at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a broken elbow. She was only there for a short stay, but she saw how huge the hospital was, filled with kids who had to be there for much longer.

With the help of her generous gymnastics community, she raised $2500 to place 100 Starlight Gowns at Levine Children’s Hospital.

Starlight Gowns replace uncomfortable and embarrassing hospital gowns with ones that are high-quality, comfortable, and brightly colored. Wearing fun designs like the Gaming-themed Gown normalizes children’s hospital stays and gives them an outlet to express their identity.

“She really loved that Starlight Gowns brought kids a little bit of happiness in a bad time,” said Elaine, Sabrina’s mom.

Sabrina’s story truly shows how powerful communities can be when they come together! And this season is the perfect time to rally your friends and family to give happiness to seriously ill kids.

“Especially right now, we all just have to look out for each other and give back. You can make somebody else smile and it makes you feel good. It can be just $5 –it doesn’t have to be a lot. Any little bit could help,” said Elaine.

To hold your own fundraiser like Sabrina, get started by creating a fundraising page. If you need help or want to run an idea by us, you can contact donations@starlight.org.

Give happiness this holiday season by helping Starlight deliver innovative and inspiring programs like Gowns, Gaming, and Deliveries to seriously ill kids who need it most.