Mary Bridge Children's Hospital asked Grade 9 student Ariel Poulsen to participate in their launch of the international program Beads Of Courage. Participants in the program, who are children with serious illnesses, receive colored beads representing milestones, challenging medical procedures and acts of bravery. Examples include a yellow bead for an overnight hospital stay and a glow-in-the-dark bead for a radiation treatment. The organization supports hospitals across the United States as well as in Ireland, Japan and New Zealand. For the launch of the program at Mary Bridge, Ariel provided more than 150 cloth bags for the patients to use to carry their beads. Ariel also continues to make pillow cases for Mary Bridge and other Multicare hospitals.

Learn more about Beads of Courage at www.beadsofcourage.org.