When 6-year-old Matthew McDonnell told his mom and dad that he wanted to sell hot chocolate to raise money for kids with cancer, they did what any parents would do after hearing such a touching request — they made it happen.
But what makes this family’s story of kindness so unique, is that just like the kids Matthew vowed to raise money for, he too is in a fight for his life each and every day.
You see, Matthew has a rare, high-risk form of Wilm’s Tumor (kidney cancer). According to his mother Linda, he was diagnosed at 3 years old and has since undergone three major surgeries, several minor surgeries, months of intense chemotherapy, 25 total radiation treatments, and countless other medical procedures.
But despite his multiple surgeries and intense treatments, Linda tells Babble that Matthew always has it in his heart to put others first.
It was on a trip home from the store a few months ago that Matthew started talking to his mom about raising money for kids with cancer. He wanted to sell hot cocoa — one of his favorite beverages — to help raise money for pediatric cancer research and awareness.
So Linda rushed home, told her husband Patrick the plan, and said, “We have to make this happen.”
Before long, Matthew’s little idea grew into something much greater.
“Initially we were considering having his stand in our garage, but then realized parking would not be ideal in our neighborhood,” says Linda. “After thinking about it, we reached out to our township and asked if we could hold his event at the local park under a covered pavilion that also had a fireplace.”
Because of Matthew’s treatment schedule, the family only had one weekend in December to host this event. So once they received approval, Patrick quickly set to work building the hot chocolate stand and Linda began preparing the huge batches of hot chocolate, while friends, family, and local businesses came together to donate cookies, cocoa, and paper goods.
When it came time to determining the price per cup, Matthew decided against a set price and instead told customers that “donations were based on whatever people felt in their heart to give.”
And donate from the heart they did.
Linda said they had no idea how many people to expect, but the sheer numbers who came out on December 10 to show their support of Matthew and all of the other children battling cancer, was overwhelming.
According to Patrick’s mathematical estimation, there were easily 500 plus people who showed up to support Matthew’s Miraculous Hot Chocolate stand. So many people came together that night, that he even had to go home twice to make more cocoa.
And despite being cold, tired, and hungry, Matthew stayed at his post for nearly two hours to hand out the hot cocoa and help take in donations. And his generosity and commitment that day sure shows the rest of us that kids are born to be givers of kindness.
With a huge grin on his face and his sweet eyes peeking out from under an Olaf hat, Mathew served up hundreds of cups of hot chocolate to a community who came together out of love and kindness to support a little boy who knows exactly what his purpose in life is.
In the end, Matthew’s Miraculous Hot Cocoa stand took in more than $6,800 in donations, which the family says will be sent directly to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a nonprofit which supports pediatric cancer research.
“Seeing that many people come out to support Matthew and his cause (raising awareness and money for pediatric cancer research) was a tangible reminder of God’s love in this world,” says Linda.
And as for any future plans to open his stand for more sales, Matthew has already mentioned that he wants to create a t-shirt to sell in hopes of raising even more money for kids with cancer. (How great is this kid?)
But despite his non-stop enthusiasm, his venture may have to temporarily be put on hold. Matthew is tentatively scheduled for a major high-risk surgery involving numerous organs in the near future at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. After that, he will be entering a very promising trial at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
“When I think about why God continues to allow Matthew to go through so much suffering, I believe it is because he touches hearts wherever he goes,” says Linda.
“Matthew has even taught me to step out of my comfort zone to touch people when God leads me to do that,” explains Linda. “It’s not always comfortable and the person may not always respond in a positive way, but you never know the seed you will plant.”
And there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Matthew McDonnell has definitely planted a lot of seeds in his six short years of life.
