Friend’s death spurs 10-year-old to continue her fundraising efforts

Brooklyn Cowsill knows what it’s like to go through chemotherapy.

She had 17 rounds of treatment after she was diagnosed with cancer at age 8.

Brooklyn’s taste buds and food cravings were constantly changing from the chemo, said her mother, Kim Cowsill.

That inspired Brooklyn to start a meal project that would provide food gift cards to other families and patients receiving treatment.

Brooklyn was treated in the Wesley Medical Arts Tower by pediatric oncologist David Rosen. She started her project in September, giving out gift cards to places like Taco Bell, Chipotle and Chick-fil-A.

Cowsill is now in remission, but the 10-year-old has continued her fundraiser. She has raised nearly $4,000 to date, Kim Cowsill said.

Brooklyn gave her first gift card to Charlie Futhey, a fellow patient in Rosen’s office.

Charlie, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 5, received treatment from Rosen for nine years.

Charlie, 14, died last month, Kim Cowsill said.

The news of Charlie’s death, she said, inspired Brooklyn to focus part of her fundraiser on honoring him. Brooklyn plans to raise $1,000 for gift cards in Charlie’s memory.

“When she found out about Charlie, she said she just needed to do something,” Kim Cowsill said. “She thought it’d be a good idea since he was the first one to get a gift card.”

Brooklyn has raised $345 so far and wants to reach $1,000 before her next follow-up appointment with Rosen on June 12, Kim Cowsill said.

Rosen said Brooklyn’s project has been well-received around the office.

“She’s really put her heart into this,” he said. “The kids get close to each other, and they get to know each other.

“When these things happen, it’s pretty rough.”

Kim Cowsill said a page for donations is set up through the crowd-sourcing site youcaring.com.

Anyone interested in donating can give at www.youcaring.com/patients-of-dr-rosen-and-kim-640665 or can label donations “For Charlie” and mail them to Rosen’s office at 3243 E. Murdock, Suite 510, Wichita, KS 67208.

This story was originally published May 31, 2017 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Friend’s death spurs 10-year-old to continue her fundraising efforts."