Local Teen Holds Creative Fundraiser for Burn Center

Alyson Holder contemplates a career in healthcare and hopes to travel to Haiti someday as a missionary. But for now, the 14-year-old from Raymond will settle with helping patients cared for at the Regional Burn Center at Memorial Medical Center.

Thanks to a 2014 calendar she created featuring members of the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department, Alyson donated $280 to the Memorial Medical Center Foundation to support the Regional Burn Center.

Alyson’s father, Greg, is the training officer, captain and secretary for the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department. The entirely volunteer squad is made up of 30 men.

“Along with being a fireman’s daughter, I appreciate everything that firemen do. Not just the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department, but the Litchfield Fire Department, the Chicago Fire Department,” Alyson said. “You will never know when it may be your house that’s on fire and they need to put the fire out. I feel bad for all of the men and women who get hurt at a fire so I thought it would be a great opportunity to donate the proceeds to the Burn Center.”

The eighth grader at Lincolnwood Jr. High School worked with her dad to select the photos for each month. Photos include squad members at trainings and in a classroom teaching kids about fire safety, the fire trucks in a parade, the annual firemen’s picnic and hanging holiday lights. Each firefighter’s birthday is listed, as well as training days and department meetings.

“I basically made the calendar to show our firemen how much we really appreciate them, and not just our firemen, but to show other fireman how much we care about them and hope that they all stay safe,” Alyson said.

Money donated to the Regional Burn Center through Memorial’s Foundation is used for educational events in the community, an annual dinner honoring burn survivors, the Burn Center’s annual 5k Run/Walk and educational supplies for patient and nurses.