Kids healing kids

NEA Today, Nov 1996

ben a new oncology and radiology clinic was built near Holland, Michigan, Bobbie Kearns hit upon an idea to lift the spirits of the younger patients there.

Kearns, a music teacher for West Ottawa Public Schools, thought kids suffering from catastrophic illnesses would enjoy videotapes of children singing. So she formed "Kids Healing Kids," a volunteer choir of 230 students from Waukazoo and Woodside elementary schools.

"All children are welcome to participate," Kearns explains warmly. "It's an open enrollment policy." Together they've recorded dozens of songs of encouragement, creating a tape that's thrilled the clinic's director-and his young patients.

With help from parents, the district, and local businesses, Kearns distributes free videotapes to the clinic. The choir, which Kearns plans to expand to as many as 500 students, still rehearses weekly and makes new recordings.

"As we say at every show," notes Kearns, "`We have important work to do, and we make a difference."'