Melissa Hanson
masslive.com
With Thursday marking National Lego Day, Matt Laramie is continuing the effort he started with “Matt’s Lego Drive for Kids with Cancer” by dropping off 100 Lego sets to pediatric cancer patients in Worcester and other children who are in need.
Laramie, of Worcester, is hoping the national day will draw some more attention to programs for children in need and encourage people to donate a favorite childhood toy.
On Thursday, Laramie is planning to drop off 50 Lego sets to Why Me/Sherry’s House and another 50 sets to the UMass Child Life Program, where he has previously donated 100 sets to pediatric cancer patients.
Laramie started the Lego drive inspired by his friend, Amanda, a child life specialist at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He had asked how he could support young patients. Amanda responded with a wish list of Legos, Barbies and art supplies.
The impact of the donation didn’t hit Laramie until he heard about how much of an impact a Lego set had on a 6-year-old patient.
“It was a great feeling that something so small made a difference that day,” Laramie said in a statement.
Since then, Laramie has donated more than 300 sets of Legos.
“To me, Legos are nostalgic as they bring many of us back to our childhoods,” Laramie said. “They are the first building blocks for many of our lives. We learn to be creative, imaginative, and some of us even learn to follow instructions through building with them. These kids are at the hospital many times and sometimes for very long days, and building with Legos can help keep their minds off of the anxiety, fear, and pain they are experiencing.”
Initially, Laramie decided he would set up a drive with a goal of filling the back of his truck, which he expected would require about 200 Lego sets. Following support of the community, Laramie now aims for 500 sets.
More information about the lego drive can be found on Facebook. Laramie works for North End Motor Sales in Worcester, where anyone interested in donating can drop off Lego sets.
For National Lego Day, Matt Laramie is delivering 100 Lego sets to Worcester pediatric cancer patients and kids in need https://t.co/mjUdwSpdqZ
— masslivenews (@masslivenews) January 28, 2021
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