Young artist reaches out to sick child

Stephanie Boula isn't letting her fourth grade status stop her from making an adult-size difference.

When Boula, who attends Hilton Village Elementary, heard about a child who is ill and who is a student at the Quest School, she quickly decided she had to do something to help out. Boula decided to put her art skills into action to raise money.

"She said she wants to find the cure for cancer but she's too young," said Stacey Boula, Stephanie's mother. "She told me her allowance wasn't going to be enough."

Ryan McPhee, an eight-year-old at the Quest School, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1999. To the delight of his family and friends, the deadly disease went into remission. Unfortunately, tests revealed, October 9, that McPhee is again battling leukemia.

Boula's class has been collecting change to help defer medical expenses, and now Boula will be raffling off a water color sketch that she designed. The sketch, which is currently on display at the Parma Public Library, will be raffled off at the Hilton Big M December 6 starting at 10 a.m. Boula took it upon herself to speak with the management of the Hilton Big M and the Parma Public Library, asking for both organizations to help out.

Raffle tickets will be sold that day at $1 a piece and will go directly to McPhee's cause.

"I feel very sorry for him," said Boula. "My goal is to raise a lot of money."