Beads of Courage

I heard about Beads of Courage during my Beadmaking class at BAGI.  My instructor, Shirley Cook, would demonstrate beadmaking techniques to us while making actual glass beads, and she would laugh to us that she wanted to make the beads in "funky" colors "for the kids".  Of course, we HAD to ask about the kids!  What kids?

Shirley told us that every demo bead she makes is donated to an organization called Beads of Courage.  The way I understand it, when a child with cancer starts in the Beads of Courage program, they get beads that spell out their name.  Then, with each procedure, they get a bead in a color (chart can be found here) corresponding to the treatment they are receiving.  When a child finishes their treatment, they are given a purple heart bead.  

Then there are the butterflies.  Shirley couldn't continue without getting a little misty-eyed when she told us that butterfly beads are given to the parents of the children who pass away and don't make it through treatment.  

Any beadmaker can contribute to Beads of Courage. I've heard that they especially need purple hearts and, sadly, glass butterflies.  Even polymer bead makers can make and donate beads to the cause.  Specifications for bead donations can be found here, and are really only limited to the size of the mandrel.   Let the color wheel inspire you.