ELGIN, SC (WIS) - Bright-eyed and full of energy, Cole Sawyer was just 11 years old when he died of cancer.
Cole's struggle touched the hearts of many in the Midlands including Paul Towns.
Towns?remembers first hearing about Cole's death and Camp Kemo back in November 2004 while dealing with some life-changing news of his own.
"I had just found out that I had cancer and when you first find out you get cancer, you know lots of things go through your mind," said Towns.
Towns didn't get down. Instead, he decided to give back. You see, Towns puts on one of the biggest light shows every year in the town of Elgin: 35,000 lights on six acres that anyone can see free of charge.
After hearing about Cole's death, Towns decided to set up a donation jar to help send kids to Camp Kemo in the boy's honor.
"We are going to keep Cole's dream alive by sending kids to camp in memory of Cole," said Towns. "Even in his passing, he's still sending kids to camp."
Cole's mother, Stacy Sawyer, says Camp Kemo was a bright spot for Cole. Stacy says he got the chance to attend the camp just a few months before he passed away.
"It was just so amazing," said Stacy. "They do so many neat things and I think too for him it just made him feel good to be with people who were experiencing the same things."
Towns' donation to Camp Kemo is bigger than ever this year. He stopped by the hospital to personally deliver it to Sawyer.
"We raised $7,170," said?Towns. "We were blessed with good weather and we had a lot of help getting the word out this year."
The donation will send about 14 kids to camp -- like 19-year-old Megan Harmon.
Harmon went last summer and is on the road to recovery, but says Camp Kemo has forever changed her outlook on life.
"It definitely helps you understand that there are other people and that your not ever going to be alone with it," said Harmon.
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Source: http://www.wistv.com/story/16458785/christmas-light-connoisseur-donates-7000-to-cancer-camp
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