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Essay Contest: Joy
Through a fantastic foundation made to bring attention to people with cancer and help them get through all of their struggles, a fundraiser was brought about and Ayden and I wanted to help. We were both 16 and wanting to make a difference in people's lives.
The organization, Tricia's Troops, was passionate about finding someone local with cancer and giving them goodie bags and financially helping them in any way. At this particular event, we worked the water pong game.
There would be prizes for each ball made, but three balls cost 10 dollars which would go right back into the organization. Every ball thrown was another smile for everyone. For even the ones that missed the cup, a laugh would sprout in everyone.
Through the hard times in these people's lives, they need times where they can be themselves and not show what they are going through. Through the sorrow that they have around them at all times, they need places where they can laugh and smile for any reason. Pong is such a simple thing, but when bringing such a good cause into the equation, you can get a perfect game for everyone.
At one point there was an 87 year old that was struggling to walk around and let alone throw a ping pong ball wanted to play. She missed all three of her balls but everyone kept saying, “ONE MORE!” She had the biggest smile I have ever seen throwing the balls and as soon as she made the ball in the cup, she was the happiest person I saw there the whole night.
I said to Ayden, “I love how these people can be themselves and not have to worry about cancer that has already taken over their lives.”
He replied, “This just brings me so much happiness through the joy that all of these people have shown.”
When we left, both of us were in the best attitude from all of the smiling and happiness that filled us both.
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This is a submission for the Teens Making a Difference essay contest.