Teen's Eagle Scout Project Collecting Bandages Inspired By Personal Battle
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Earning the title of Eagle Scout is one of the biggest honors a young man can have.
An Apple Valley scout is doing just that, but his project to collect bandages for children is inspired by his own journey, and you can help him accomplish his goal.
Trent Spangler, a Boy Scout from Troop 298 in Apple Valley, is almost done with his Eagle Project.
"It is the highest rank that you can be, and it's a great accomplishment," he said.
He's gathering and donating what he hopes will be thousands of bandages to Children's Hospital.
"It's for all the little kids. When they go there, they get poked and don't get any happiness," Trent said.
While Eagle projects are meant to challenge, for Trent, his project hits close to home.
"I've had cancer three times now," he said.
He had it twice when he was a young child and now again as a teenager, just diagnosed again in October. During his hospital stays, wounds are patched with a wad of cotton and surgical tape.
"I know what it feels like to get that ripped off," he said. "A bandaid with a clean rip is probably less painful."
So, he's going to change that.
"We are putting these on doors around Apple Valley," he said, holding one of his calls for bandages. "These will be used primarily for the oncology department at Children's Hospital of Minnesota."
He only asks that they be unopened, latex free and fun for kids. For Trent and kids just like him, it gives them a little control. Because you can't choose why you're at the hospital, but you can choose what bandage you want.
"I understand what they're going through," Trent said.
You can help Trent accomplish his goal by giving him bandages, or donating to his GoFundMe page. They have to be fun, new in the box and Latex-free. He's having a dropoff at his house in Apple Valley on Saturday, June 4. You can also mail them to him at 7310 142nd St. West in Apple Valley.
You can help Trent in his latest cancer fight by going to his CaringBridge page.