Send Your Paper Airplanes

Since we've been getting in the spirit of giving, I thought this was an appropriate post. I think it would be nice if everyone would send a paper airplane to Hunter. They're wicked easy to make, it's not time consuming, and aside from postage, doesn't cost anything, so go and get some paper!
-Sami

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=55348

Five-Year-Old Cancer Patient Trying For World Record

A five-year-old Freedom boy is attempting to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for collecting the largest number of paper airplanes.

Hunter Winship began his quest several weeks ago as a patient at Buffalo's Women's and Children's Hospital. He has spent the past month there during his fight against Burkitt's Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer characterized by rapidly growing tumors.

"We've told him he has cancer and they're going to make his tummy aches go away and that he's going to lose his hair," said Hunter's mother, Cheryl Winship.

Cheryl said it is hard for Hunter to understand his illness, and that she and his aunt decided he needed a distraction from the seemingly endless hospital stays and tests.

That's when they came up with the idea of breaking a world record. They discovered that there were already records for the largest paper airplane, the smallest paper airplane, and the longest paper airplane flight. There was not, however, a record for the most number of paper airplanes received.

"We originally started this as a way to help out Hunter and we never dreamed this would help out the whole family," Cheryl said.

Now home from the hospital, Hunter has an incentive for pushing through his cancer fight. While Cheryl said Hunter's medical prognosis is good, it's the airplane project that's really lifting his spirits. He's received planes from around the world and right here in Western New York.

"It's taken over everything!" Cheryl said. "I think we're going to have to build an addition."

Hunter's nine-year-old sister, Brooke, said the nationwide support has encouraged not only her brother but her family.

"I hope we reach the goal so we can get in the Guinness Book of World Records and he can like reach lots of goals and like, I don't know, be famous," Brooke said.

So far, the family believes they've collected around 200,000 planes. They'll continue doing so until March 17th. If you'd like to help Hunter set a world record, you can mail a paper airplane to:

Hunter Winship
The Airplane Cancer Goal
11227 North Hill Road
Freedom, New York 14065

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hunterwinship