One little girl raises $1 million for wells in Africa

Nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith lived with her family in Western Washington. If you've watched the news or read yesterday's New York Times, you might be familiar with her story.

Rachel asked her parents to skip her ninth birthday party in June, and the presents. Instead, they helped her put up a page at charity:water to ask friends and family to contribute $9 each to build wells in Africa. Rachel's goal was $300. She raised $220 initially. She was sad she didn't make her goal.

Rachel died in a fifteen-car pileup on July 23rd, and her page took on a life of its own. The contributions passed $1 million this morning.

If you'd like to take a look (bring Kleenex if you're reading the comments,) Rachel's page can be found at http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=16396. This is the best $9 I have ever spent. I'm donating again, too.

Rest in peace, Rachel. You've changed my life for the better. After all, it's better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

-MV

:cry:

I was so hoping the good people of New York would come through for her. They did.

Her parents must be remarkable people - Rachel, according to yesterday's article, donated her hair twice to Locks of Love as well. Her parents also donated her organs after she died.

:cry:

:cry: O8)

"Each small candle lights a corner of the dark." - Roger Waters

It's corny, and yeah, I'm a cynic, too, but I keep hoping that somehow, she knows she made her goal.

:cry:

Thanks.

and yet there is hope.

:kick:

Thank you

I have been reposting it on FB, and I donated. I'd love to see her wish go even farther.

http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=16396

I know the people on my Twitter timeline are probably sick of it, too, but I'll keep speaking up.

:woohoo:

I went online and submitted a nomination. They required a phone or email for the nominee, so I put the email address the reporter who wrote the story about her in the Seattle Times. Then I posted on the CNN Heroes wall on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/CNNHeroes?sk=wall

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/nom/

Many more people are saying they just read about it in their morning paper, so hopefully this movement will continue to grow.

I saw 2 comments from people who saw it on the front page of their paper ***in Italy***!!! :wow:

She is up to $1,062,953 now.