Austin McCleary’s project is now his legacy. Austin, an Eisenhower Elementary student, was diagnosed in 2003 with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer of the nervous system. In 2010, he helped start a Kate’s Kart book drive at his school. On July 12, 2011, Austin, 11, passed away, but his passion for reading and Kate’s Kart lives on at Eisenhower. Angie McCleary, Austin’s mother, said, “It’s (Austin’s) legacy. That’s the part that makes me glad we keep doing this.” Eisenhower Elementary School is holding its third Kate’s Kart book drive Monday through Feb. 28. New or “like new” books can be dropped off, which then will be given to hospitals for children to read. According to Eisenhower librarian Tammy Boggs, the books will stay local at Kosciusko Community Hospital. Any age level of books are needed, from babies through teenagers. Boggs said they don’t have a goal, “just to make children happy who are suffering in the hospital.” Angie said the book drive is also a “huge deal” for Austin’s brothers, Drew and JW. “Austin just loved to read, especially the ones that made him laugh,” Angie said. Keeping the books local at KCH is important, she said, because of at least one little girl. In an email sent to Angie from the unidentified girl’s grandmother, the girl was at the hospital and nothing could make her smile. When Kate’s Kart came by, she was given a book that had a book plate in it saying it was donated in honor of Austin. The little girl knew Austin’s story and recognized him as the “rainbow boy.” On the day Austin died, there had been a huge rainbow in the sky. The girl finally smiled because of the book. “One girl and a smile is worth doing this drive,” Angie said. If one person brings in a book for Kate’s Kart, she said that would be thrilling for her. Kate’s Kart was named after Kate Layman, daughter of Andy and Krista Layman. According to the Kate's Kart website, “‘Baby Kate’ was born June 26, 2006. Shortly after her birth, she was diagnosed with heart and pulmonary defects. During Kate’s journey, she endured four open heart surgeries, five heart catheterizations, and more than 150 days in the hospital. During her stays in the hospital, one of Kate’s favorite things to do was look at books and have others read to her. She also loved eating ice cream and popsicles, and going on wagon rides. On Jan. 15, 2008, at the age of just 18 months, her fragile heart gave out and she passed from her mother’s arms into her Heavenly Father’s arms. “In honor of Kate, and her love of books, the Layman family decided to start a rolling book cart in the pediatric unit of a local hospital as a way to give back to the medical community that had taken such great care of Kate. The cart would be filled with new books, and each child would be able to select a book off the cart to keep. The cart was fondly named ‘Kate’s Kart’.” For more information on Kate’s Kart, visit the website at www.kateskart.org
