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   It's something you just can't help doing -- or at least I can't: when you hear of someone going through a difficult ordeal, you of course feel empathy and wonder what you can do to help, but you also try to imagine what it must be like. Or, in the case of a parent with a sick child, you /can't/ let yourself imagine what it's like, because just imagining is too much.

   For a lot of us, that's as far as it goes. But members of a church youth group from Nitro are not just imagining, empathizing or praying. They're stepping up -- and making it easy for others to step up too, in the midst of our busy lives, to help children battling life-threatening illnesses.

   The group AGEE'S Angels from St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Nitro is sponsoring a benefit walk this Saturday in Hurricane. Incidentally my great-grandfather helped build this church, my mom sang in the choir and when I was a teenager, oh, just a few years ago ;-) I was a member of the youth group.

The money raised will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in honor of two young cancer patients: Jackson Cook and Kole Miller. Jackson's 3, and from Scott Depot. Kole is 5, and he's the son of a friend of mine from high school -- Lori (King) Miller. This is where the "can't imagine" part comes in. Even though I haven't been in touch with Lori since we graduated, it's not hard to form a mental picture of this happy family, this little boy with a big sister and a little sister, who are all in the fight of their lives. If I even let my mind wander to consider how my oldest child would feel if her little brother were facing something like this... well I just have to force myself to stop.

Anyway, AGEE'S Angels is making it easy for all of us to do something to help, while still keeping up with all the other craziness in our lives.

The one-mile walk is this Saturday morning, August 1 at Valley Park in Hurricane. Registration starts at 8 and the walk is at 9. Other activities are planned, such as a Jupiter Jump and silent auction with a lot of great stuff up for grabs.

I'll be there helping with the MC duties. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of friends I haven't seen in quite a while, and helping families -- not just the families of these two boys in particular -- but all the families that St. Jude's helps. Every bit of the money raised will go to St. Jude's, which is helping kids who are sick now and also researching to find a way to wipe out these terrible life-threatening children's illnesses altogether. Because really, how wonderful would it be for all of us not to have to imagine... or actually endure what is truly unthinkable... any more.

If you'd like to help but can't make it to the walk or if you have any questions, you can call the church at (304) 755-3561.