Matthew Christian McDonnell, an 8-year-old South Abington Twp resident, is launching a non-profit, known as “Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles” to defeat pediatric cancer by creating awareness, raising funds for research, and helping families battling this horrible disease.
McDonnell is a cancer survivor who has battled a rare form of Wilm’s tumor (kidney cancer) four times since he was three years old. When speaking about his journey, McDonnell always says that God healed him four times; hence the number four in the name of his organization.
His official launch will be at Tunkhannock’s Christmas in our Hometown on December 8.
McDonnell has such a heart for God that he wanted his first act of service to be providing children with Jesus Calling devotionals, a book he reads every day before school. Matthew wants every child to know that Jesus is their best friend and will always be there for them, and he knows that God granted him a Miracle Healing (that is ongoing). He wants every child to experience their own miracle in their life.
In addition to Devotionals, McDonnell will be giving out mittens filled with hot cocoa packets and a candy cane, as well as a Christmas card he designed. There is a special meaning behind these items. Matthew’s first personal pediatric cancer awareness fundraiser was held almost two years ago. At that time, Matthew had a 10-plus inch tumor inside his abdomen. He willingly and joyfully stood in the cold for two hours to hand out cocoa to the community. This was his twist on the well-known Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Since it was December, Matthew thought people would like one of his favorite beverages, which is hot cocoa. He raised more than $8,000 at that event.
When McDonnell relapsed in kindergarten for the second time, his teacher organized a fundraiser for him known as “Mittens for Matthew.” Matthew’s elementary school as well as the entire community supported him in so many ways. During the event in Tunkhannock, mittens will be given out by Matthew as a token of his sincere appreciation of what others have done for him.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to McDonnell’s non-profit organization can do so by sending a check made out to “Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles” and mailed to the following address:
Matthew’s Hope 4 Miracles
℅ Scranton Area Foundation
615 Jefferson Ave. Suite 102
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510
The McDonnell Family would like to thank everyone in advance for their continued love, support, and prayers as they embark on this very important mission. With Jesus walking every step of this journey with them, they have tremendous hope for a future with improved, effective treatments for children battling this terrible disease.
