A third-grader from Edwardsville, Illinois took $1,000 he won at a scavenger hunt and donated them to a 2-year-old neighbor who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, according to news reports.

Wyatt Erber knew how much the Kieltys needed the money for young Cara’s chemotherapy from all the bake sales they did to raise the money. Thus, he planned from the start to give them the scavenger hunt prize money if he happened to win.

Mrs. Kielty recalled Wyatt calling a few weeks ago to ask how much chemo $1,000 would buy for Cara. He told her that he didn’t have a better way to use the money and wanted to help Cara. She was floored by the gesture but never thought that Wyatt would actually win.

However, Wyatt took his $1,000 prize to the Kieltys’ on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Kielty could not believe it.

“Oh, my God!” she said as she hugged and kissed the boy. He responded with a “Yuck!” and wiped his face before running back to play with his hula hoop.

Wyatt had played all summer long in the scavenger hunt held by First Clover Leaf Bank in Edwardsville for a chance to help his young neighbor and ended up actually winning.

A spokesperson for the bank, Rachel Case, got Edwardsville Neighbors in Need involved, a group that offers financial assistance to local families for medical emergencies. They matched Wyatt’s $1,000 gift.

Letters from all over the world have been pouring in at the Erber residence, praising Wyatt. “We need more kids like Wyatt,” a Canada man wrote.


From news reports
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)