Allow me this moment to boast about a member of my family.
Our great-nephew Noah Pearson is a 10-year-old with a huge heart. He lives in Albany, Ore., and is an accomplished bowler. He also is orchestrating a fundraiser scheduled for April 28 to raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
His hometown paper, the Albany Democrat-Herald, published a story about Noah’s effort. So far, according to the paper, Noah is getting a lot of attention – which is translating to a lot of tangible interest in his bowling tournament.
Others around the country no doubt are putting together programs to raise money to help the victims of the bombing. Noah’s intrepid spirit and his outward expression of compassion, though, simply blows me away. OK, I know what you’re thinking: Yeah, he’s family; of course he would blow you away. Well, I’m not the only one who is taken by Noah’s selflessness.
Bowling alley owner Roger Nyquist is, too.
According to the Democrat-Herald story, “He (Noah) sat down, looked me right in the eye and expressed his feelings about what had happened, and he had a plan, and he pitched it to me,” Nyquist recalled. “It’s neat to see somebody that young acknowledge what they’re feeling and in short order come up with a constructive activity.”
“Neat” isn’t quite the word I’d use. “Astonishing” is more to my liking.
Well done, Noah.