Will Stimmel, a senior at Seneca Valley, is raising money for UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh through his senior project titled Will’s Kicks for Kids.

On Thursday, Eagle staff had the privilege to report on the senior project of Seneca Valley Senior High School student Will Stimmel. Dubbed “Will’s Kicks for Kids,” the project is raising money for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The project involves a shoe drive where Stimmel asks people to donate new or used shoes, which in turn will be donated to developing nations.

Stimmel has personal experience with the hospital after being diagnosed at 10 months old with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that affects about one in 3,000 children and is marked by tumors growing along the nerves in the body.

While he doesn’t remember much of his treatment, he recalled how well he was treated at Children’s, prompting his goal.

It’s an excellent lesson to drive home as we round out the holiday season and hurdle into the new year. We’re an extremely self-gratifying people these days, and individuals like Will Stimmel provide an opportunity for us to reassess what truly matters.

On top of raising money for the hospital, the shoes donated will make a world of difference in the lives of others. We take something as simple as shoes for granted every day, debating on styles and prices, while those in developing nations may have none at all.

Need a New Year’s resolution? Follow Stimmel’s example and find a way to give back in 2023. If everyone found some small way to do so, it would be a much better use of our time than the hours we waste in vehement disagreement with others.

Leave differences in the past and work toward bettering the world around us as we move forward.

We commend Stimmel on his endeavors, as well as all the people helping him make the project a reality.

— CM