Scrapbook Becomes Outlet During Cancer Treatment
Boy Distributes Scrapbook Kits for fellow Children's Cancer Patients
Jun 12, 2009
Sometimes a bad situation can be turned into good. That is the case with 13-year-old Brody Chapman who since being diagnosed with Leukemia has brought joy to fellow kids with cancer by presenting them with kits to make scrapbooks during their treatment.
Chapman began his passion for scrapbooks at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton when he began his treatment during Easter 2007. Mother, Carmen Chapman, said his aunt introduced him to scrapbooks as a hobby in order to fill the time spent in isolation during chemotherapy. Chapman became passionate about scrapbooking and quickly began taking photos of the day-to-day life around him in the hospital. “It is a great outlet for him; he put down his feelings on paper,” said Carmen.
Scrapping with Cancer Foundation
Chapman felt his friends at the hospital would benefit making scrapbooks too, which sparked the idea for the Scrapping with Cancer Foundation of Canada. Chapman would like to see every child diagnosed with cancer in Alberta have a kit to start making scrapbooks with, said Carmen.
On their website they describe what a kit contains:
- Camera
- Scrap book album
- Scrap book paper
- Scrapping tools
- Carrying case
- Personal letter from Chapman
On the website it says each scrapbook costs an estimated $65. In order to receive contributions Chapman has had to visit corporations and explain his case.
“Basically they gave us a tough start. They would say great idea, good luck with that and not take him seriously, but now we have gone to a point that we have to think of different fundraisers because it has gone beyond Alberta,” says Carmen. “And we have received more requests than offers to help and we don’t turn anyone down. We can’t. Brody’s attitude is just do it.”
Since beginning the project in November 2007 Chapman has grabbed the attention of the national press and partnered with other organizations, such as Candlelighters, the Children’s Wish Foundation and Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Scrapping with Cancer has even begun chapters in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Los Angeles.
An Unlikely Friendship with Dog the Bounty Hunter
In July 2008 Chapman traveled to Hawaii to see Duane Chapman, a.k.a Dog the Bounty Hunter, as his wish from the Children’s Wish Foundation. Carmen said, “Dog has been wonderful,” and has continued an ongoing relationship with Chapman even after their meeting in Hawaii. Dog visited Chapman again in May 2009 during an appearance at a local casino in Red River, Alberta, and they keep in regular contact by phone, said Carmen.
Public vs. Private Health Care
While in Hawaii last year Chapman made the opportunity to hand out more Scrapbook kits to kids at the local Children’s Hospital. While there Carmen noticed what hospitals are like without public health care.
“The States are so different from us, they have to pay for everything,” commented Carmen. “They have to pay for a band aid, they have to pay for the gauze, they use the syringes twice because they have to pay and if they can, get a couple of uses out of the syringe right? So when we came there with these kits and everything in it, the look on their face is 'okay how much is this going to cost us?' ”
Carmen said once the children and parents understood the kits were free their faces were beaming and they quickly went to work on the kits.
“It doesn’t matter if they are in the U.S. or Canada or wherever because just seeing the reaction to how they are handling them (the kits) is just incredible,” said Carmen.
In September 2008 Chapman received a Great Kids award from the province in response to the work he has done for kids with cancer.
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