Children to be warmed by senior project
Community invited to be a part
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Whether Shannon Consley is working on a school project, active in her church, working at her job, or enjoying her family - she knows that life is precious and at 18-years-old, she's going to take advantage of every single moment.

That attitude might partly stem from the fact that Consley's a cancer survivor and has goals to help other children who suffer from the disease.

When Consley needed to select a "senior project" she decided she would make it one that would impact others - children who are hospitalized at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital on the oncology unit. "I thought I would make fleece blankets and pillows for the children, to keep them warm," she noted. She said she received a blanket when she was in Children's Hospital and "it meant a lot."

Consley turned 16 in February of 2004, and was diagnosed in April, a day before her father's 40th birthday. "We celebrated his birthday at the hospital," she laughed.

Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, Consley was hospitalized, had surgery and then had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She said she'll be in remission two years in September of this year.

Saying the project will "stretch" her because she's not much on doing crafty things, Consley said it will be good for her. Consley says she will be taking between 10-15 blanket/pillow sets to children on 5A South - the same unit she was in.

But making so many blankets and pillows can be an expensive project so Consley needed to get creative again and make some money.

The perfect solution unfolded in her mind. She, along with some help from Dad Tim, Liz Broadus, youth leader at her church and a friend she sings in Young Confederates with, Alyssa Halcomb, could put on a mini concert at Crossroads Restaurant in Versailles, where Consley is employed.

The group will offer an evening of music that will vary from Christian to pop and more, as people dine on March 25 from 6-8 p.m. They will accept a free will offering with the proceeds warming children in the form of fleece blankets.

Consley's father is the Praise & Worship leader at CI Family Worship Center, where the family attends church. He will be providing guitar music and some karaoke style entertainment.

Consley is active at her church as a drummer, youth Praise & Worship leader, is in Young Confederates at South Ripley where she is the co-dance captain. She is involved in a number of clubs at school and is in the band and choir. She works at Crossroads Family Restaurant in Versailles and in her spare time dreams of becoming a pediatric doctor of oncology.

"I want to work at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati," she said, adding, "I would make a good doctor because I know first-hand what these children are going through."

She plans to attend Purdue University in the fall to begin her journey.

Consley invites everyone to be a part of her project and help her achieve her goal of helping others. "It will be a fun evening - a great environment to enjoy a meal," she concluded.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Shannon Consley has a smile on her face as she thinks about the project she has chosen and how much joy it will bring to others. She will be participating in a mini concert on Saturday at Crossroads Family Restaurant in Versailles, to raise money to help make blankets for hospitalized children.