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Taking A Bead On Charity

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Morgan Cox gets a feather boa from Ye Royal Krewe of Charlotte de Berry member Lisa McCorkle at Tampa General Hospital on Aug. 25. McCorkle and krewe members were at the hospital as part of the organization’s community service project.

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

TAMPA - Some of the children could barely smile or lift their small limbs to accept their gifts.

But the brightly dressed "wenches" of Ye Royal Krewe of Charlotte de Berry understood. Their job was to brighten the day of some sick kids.

Seven members of the Apollo Beach-based, nonprofit women's organization came to Tampa General Hospital's Children's Medical Center on Aug. 25 to hand out beads and assorted toys as part of the krewe's monthly mission of charity. Other organizations that have benefited include Mary and Martha House in Ruskin; James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa; and Deputies Darlin's in Ruskin.

"Most of us are mothers," said First Mate Leann Leslie. "So it brings us great joy to see how happy these children are. Doing this kind of project is always worthwhile."

The project was conceived by Carol Oliva, who works at TGH as a surgical nurse. She is also the krewe's Madam of Revelry, responsible for its public relations.

"Every week, the hospital puts out a little newspaper called The Wednesday Report," Oliva said. And two months ago, there was a request for toy donations for the children in the medical center.

"I put the request before the krewe at our July meeting, and we unanimously voted to make the visit our August project," she said.

Parents were impressed by the generosity.

Visiting from England, Ian Willace sat beside his 4-year-old daughter, Rhylee Brown, who suffers from cerebral palsy. She was at the hospital for spinal surgery.

"It's very nice," he said of the visit. "The girls are lovely and very good with the kids."

Across the room, Tina Hernandez watched her grandson Alex Urvina, 1, play with the colorful beads a krewe member had given him.

"This is great," she said. "It really means a lot to both the parents and the kids."

Older children were not left out during the visit.

Waiting for the results of her kidney biopsy, Brianna Borello, 16, fingered multiple strands of beads around her neck.

"I think what they're doing is so nice," she said. "I know what it's like to be here, so it's especially nice for the little ones."

The krewe members first visited patients in the child life playroom and then trooped down the halls of the fifth floor to see children in their rooms. The group consisted of Oliva, Lisa McCorkle, Leslie, Krys Patterson, Donna Thompson, Tracy McGovern and Cindy Lyles.

The group's final destination was the pediatric dialysis unit, the only one of its kind in Hillsborough County.

"It's wonderful we have such caring groups in the community who like to come and share their time and talents with the children," said Stephanie Reynolds, a child life specialist whose job is to make children comfortable in the hospital and decrease their anxiety. "It means a lot to the children that people come see them, and the gifts help enhance their stays."

"It means a great deal to Tampa General whenever busy, working professionals take time to visit children in need," said TGH spokeswoman Ellen Fiss.

Additional toys the krewe donated will be given to future patients and used for special occasions such as a child's birthday.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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