Lynlee Womack dedicates birthday to St. Jude

Lynlee Womack of Monette, daughter of Brandon and Shona Womack, will celebrate her seventh birthday on Feb. 15. She asked her mother, a RN who works part time at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, if she could raise money for her birthday to give to the children at St. Jude instead of receiving gifts.

When asked how much she would like to raise, Lynlee didn't hesitate when she said $1,000. Her mother did not want her to be disappointed if she did not meet her goal, so she suggested they start with $100.

Shona set up an account. She thought a good way to let her family and friends know about Lynlee's birthday wishes was to post it on Facebook. It was late one night when she posted it and within 15 hours Lynlee had over $500 in birthday money to donate to St. Jude. Shona then let Lynlee go back to her original $1,000 goal.

Within a week, as of Jan. 22, Lynlee raised $3,150 for St. Jude. She has received some checks in the mail, and there is a link posted on Shona's Facebook page.

Shona works full time at NEA Baptist Hospital and part-time at St. Jude. Lynlee has been involved in St. Jude bike-a-thons through pre-school and already says she wants to grow up and be a nurse at St. Jude.

"I want to help the children at St. Jude," Lynlee said. "Our school raised money for Noah when he was at St. Jude."

Lynlee is a first grade student at Buffalo Island Central West Elementary.

Her story was featured on KAIT-TV recently as she shared her plans to give her birthday money to St. Jude.

Her father is a deputy with the Craighead County Sheriff's Department, both her grandparents are volunteer fire fighters in Leachville, and in addition to her mother being a nurse, several other family members are nurses, so it is natural for Lynlee to have a caring nature.

Last year she had a bowling party and this year she is planning a party at Divalicious. Instead of gifts for herself, she will be adding her birthday money to the other donations.

Shona is planning to take Lynlee to St. Jude and let her present the money herself.

"I want to make it a special day and let her go on a tour of St. Jude, eat in the cafeteria, visit the gift shop and pick out a gift for herself," Shona said.

Lynlee also added she plans to pick up a gift for her baby brother, Case, who is five months old.

Lynlee will be collecting birthday money until the middle of February. She is excited about exceeding her goal and she expressed her appreciation to everyone who helped make her birthday wish come true.

Lynlee proves one is never too young to think of others and put those thoughts to work.