Giving hearts

It's 3:15 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon in November, and students pour out of the doors at Burnet Elementary.

A line quickly formed in front of a table stocked with cookies that sixth-graders Channing McCrury and Skylar McCrary were selling to help raise money for fellow student Austin Cochran, who recently found out at age 7 he has several malignant tumors in his brain.

The rate for two cookies was 25 cents, and after only 30 minutes of selling the cookies Channing came running in Austin's second-grade teacher Donna Pittmon's room with a bag of quarters.

"Fifty-three dollars," Channing said. And that was only one of two cookie stations.

THE DIAGNOSIS

About a week after school started, some Burnet teachers noticed Austin's motor skills weren't normal.

And things started to move fast - he was whisked away to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth and is not expected to return for another year. 

As a result, second-grade teacher Cathy Bredemeyer saw Austin's situation as one in need of help. She rounded up students and started to think of ways to raise money.

Sixth-grader Skylar quickly followed suit. On the heels of a successful summer lemonade stand, she decided to set one up in front of nearby schools and churches with other Burnet cheerleaders. All the proceeds went to Austin's cause.

"It feels good to help save somebody's life," Skylar said softly.

Channing piped up, "We also wrote on an angel book."

Bredemeyer sold copies of angels on cardstock for $1 to raise money and had the students color on them and write a little message to Austin.

STUDENTS' EMPATHY

"I hope you will be beder soon becus I thek you will be sick and I want you to be here becus I want to play becus I will be your frend, - J.J.," one of the cards read.

Not only did she quickly raise $1,600 for Austin from the angel cards, but Bredemeyer said when the notes were read to him by the nurse at Cook's he spoke up in recognition, which he hasn't done much since he became sick.

Burnet third-grade teacher J'lynn Collins said she tries to teach her students empathy, but Austin's case brought it home for them.

She said it's teaching her students compassion and how they can make it into a positive by helping. She said they're learning how to appreciate health and life at a young age.

The fund-raising efforts of the community, teachers and students have raised $3,000 for Austin, and they're still going.

They also plan to sell more angels.

"Dear Austin, I hope you get better soon. I miss you from school. I'm very sorry your sick, your best friend," read another angel's card from his class.

WHO HAS HELPED

>> Local merchants H-E-B, Albertsons, Sam's Club and Golden Corral have helped by donating food items for the Austin Cochran fund-raising bake sales and the hot dog cookout at the Family Book Fair Night and PTA meeting. The fund-raiser made $800 that night in hot dog sales.