OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Dozens of students at Shawnee Mission North High School are getting into the holiday spirit. They’re customizing stockings for patients undergoing chemotherapy at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
"Since the cancer patients aren't going to be able to have Christmas with their family, we thought that it would probably be a nice thing to get them gifts from us," said Jordan, an 11th-grade student.
The idea was inspired by Angela Holtgraves, a teacher at the high school who is a cancer survivor. One of Holtgraves’s students battled cancer as well, which made them want to give back to those fighting during the holidays.
"The whole class was like, we have two survivors in the class. We need to do something for cancer. Let’s go do that," said Holtgraves.
The nurses at the KU Cancer Center in Overland Park, Kansas, who supported Holtgraves through her cancer treatments are also supporting the project.
Holtgraves will deliver the stockings to Children's Mercy Hospital Thursday evening.