Sometimes, walking through the toy aisles shopping for Daisy’s Rainbow Cart is hard on Lolly Hader’s heart. As she shops, she thinks of her daughter, Daisy, who died at only eight years old from a rare disease.
Tears come, but sometimes Lolly laughs, too, as she imagines Daisy playing with slime or another toy Lolly adds to her cart.
“Daisy was quite a character,” she said.
In her honor, Lolly established Daisy’s Rainbow Cart, which delivers toys and activities to pediatric patients and their siblings at Benefis Health System.
Daisy spent many days in the pediatrics unit at Benefis and nine months at Seattle Children’s Hospital. While receiving treatment in Seattle, Daisy especially looked forward to their cart of toys, games, art, and activities. In her last three months, Daisy could no longer do much of what she had loved – but she could still paint with her older sister, Riley.
“You could tell she was really struggling, but she would light up when it was time for painting, so that is why I do what I do,” Lolly said.
As she pushes the cart around to young patients’ bedsides, Lolly sees big smiles “whether from parents with a newborn, a struggling toddler, or a teenager in the hospital,” she said. “It tells them, ‘We care about you.’”
Recently, the Electric City Roller Grrrlz presented Benefis Foundation with a check to support Daisy’s Rainbow Cart.
Lolly is a member of the roller derby team, which donates a percentage of profits from every bout to a local cause.
“With local nonprofits, we feel our dollar goes farther,” skater Tauna Locatelli said.
“The community really shows up,” teammate Desarae Baker added.
Many hearts together are better than one, Lolly said.
The skaters approached Scheels asking for a sponsorship, and leaders of the sporting goods store decided to give more by matching the donation to Daisy’s Rainbow Cart. Wendy Lee, who presented a check on behalf of Scheels, said it’s amazing the impact people can have when they team up to support good causes. She hopes Daisy’s Rainbow Cart will continue to bring joy to patients and their families during difficult times.
To support Daisy’s Rainbow Cart with monetary donations, gift cards, or by donating new, unopened toys, contact Benefis Foundation at (406) 455-5840 or foundation@benefis.org.