The “Carry a Bead” program is a unique initiative that directly supports the mission of Beads of Courage. Our mission is to provide innovative arts-in-medicine programs to improve the quality of life for children coping with serious illnesses, their families, and the clinicians who care for them.
Here’s how the “Carry a Bead” program works:
- You receive a kit: When you participate, typically with a donation (often around $15-$20), you receive a kit containing a pair of matching beads and a story card.
- Carry one bead: You carry or wear one of the beads with you as you go about your day or during a specific event or activity – big or small. This act symbolizes your care and support for a child facing serious illness.
- Share your experience: You’re encouraged to think about the child who will receive the bead as you carry it. You can even take photos or videos of your experience.
- Return one bead with a message: After your activity, you return one of the beads along with the story card, on which you can write a message of encouragement.
- The returned bead goes to a child: The bead you return, infused with your good intentions, is then given to a child enrolled in the Beads of Courage program on a tough treatment day or to celebrate a milestone. Your story card is often included to provide extra encouragement.
- Keep one bead as a reminder: You keep the other matching bead as a tangible reminder of your act of compassion and your connection to a courageous child. You can even start your own strand of support by participating in the program multiple times.
“Carry a Bead” allows you to:
- Support Beads of Courage financially: Your donation helps fund their vital arts-in-medicine programs.
- Offer direct encouragement to a child: The bead you carry and return becomes a symbol of hope and connection for a child facing difficult times.
- Become part of a community of caring individuals: By participating, you join “Team Beads of Courage” and contribute to their mission of bringing comfort and support to seriously ill children.
The beads returned through the “Carry a Bead” program are often referred to as “Act of Courage” beads within the Beads of Courage program, signifying the kindness and support of the wider community.
Share Your Carry a Bead Experience:
CARRY A BEAD TESTIMONIALS
Every time you carry a bead, you encourage kids like Alex and Zachary to stay strong and keep fighting!
Alex
Beads of Courage member Alex received a bead that was carried by Sarah Tierney of Merrimack College. Her encouragement note reads, “I wore this bead in my race today! Stay strong! I am thinking of you!!! Keep fighting – you rock!”
Alex sent us a thank-you note which says: “Thank you for my Carry a Bead. It’s really cool that you carried it in your race! I hope you did well. Thanks for carrying beads for kids like me. Here’s a picture of me wearing your bead. It’s the blue one with yellow polka dots right in the middle of all the beads I earned in November.”
Zachary
Zachary received a bead that was carried by Katlyn Jablonski of Kallispell, Montana, who carried her beads in a logging competition! On her encouragement note, Katlyn wrote, “I am nowhere near as brave as you, but I hope my adventure could make you smile!”
“Zach just received a Carry a Bead to carry along on our rough days. The bead was carried in his honor. It had its own journey and now it is joining Zach on ours. This bead is for strength.”