Not Once but Twice He Saved Me
Twenty-year-old Chase Walton of Chelsea wrote the poem, “Not Once but Twice He Saved Me” to exemplify how he lives his life. Chase is treated by the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama for a brain tumor. His family and medical team describe Chase as an inspiring young man with a deep and abiding faith that serves as his compass. His poem was the inspiration for a painting to commemorate a donation from Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers to the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. The donation of $43,399 benefits the hospital’s Hope and Cope Expressive Therapies program. The art therapy program helps address the emotional needs of children with serious blood disorders and cancer, providing them a positive, creative outlet to express their feelings and experiences. The money was raised during Express Oil’s annual Change-A-Life Campaign. Every April, the quick-service car care company donates $1 from every car serviced in all of its 42 Birmingham-area locations. “Our local stores are always very excited about this opportunity,” said CEO Ricky Brooks, adding “As we see our company continue to grow we hope that computes into even more funds for the program.” Since launching the Change-A-Life campaign in 2008, Express Oil has donated almost $400,000 to benefit cancer patients at Children’s.
The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders’ unique partnership of local, national and international centers of excellence provides care and treatment for approximately 1,500 children and adolescents with all types of cancers and blood disorders in Alabama and the region each year, www.childrensal.org./committedtoacure.†
