b"Boxing Against CancerA troop 5 Scout helps hospitalized patients and their familiesBY ADRIANNA DONATGarrett Deignan is a Boy Scout in Maplewood's Troop 5. His mother'sbattle with cancer was the inspiration for his Eagle Scout Service Project.F rom the time he was in grade schoolfor the project and supervise hundreds of hours ofhow much help they received. People were so gen-Garrett Deignan knew he had an en- labor to complete it. Usually Eagle candidates haveerous with their time and help. I really want my emy: cancer.a lengthy search to find the project thats right forproject to give back by helping others who are going Somanypeopleinmyfam- them. through the same thing.ilywerebattlingthedisease,saysSays Troop 5s Scoutmaster Roger Brauchli, ISo Deignan spoke to social workers at the Carol Deignan. My mother, my aunts, myencourageeachEagleScoutcandidatetoselectaG. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital in grandparents. All of them were treat- community service project that has some personalSummit to find out what they might need and what ed for cancer. meaning or connection to them and their passions. might help.Deignan is a Boy Scout in Maplewoods TroopBy the time Deignan became an Eagle Scout can- The social workers noted they receive a lot of gift 5. He is a Life Scout, working on his Eagle Scoutdidate with Troop 5 his choice wasnt difficult. Heboxes for patients, but not for the patients families. ServiceProject.AnEagleProjectallowsqualifiedalready knew he wanted his Eagle Project to helpThis may not seem like a problem to some people, Scouts to demonstrate their leadership skills whilepeople dealing with the challenges of cancer treat- butDeignan,whospentlonghoursatOverlook they work in the service of their community. Thement.worrying about his mom and trying to occupy his Eagle Project is one of the steps that must be com- When my mom was being treated for cancer atlittlebrother,realizedthiswasanopportunityto pleted before becoming an Eagle Scout. Many EagleOverlookHospital,saysDeignan,sometimesmyhelp families who were going through similar chal-Projects involve working with institutions like localbrother and I were with her in the hospital for longlenges.government, a religious group, or a charity.periods of time. And sometimes my dad stayed over- He decided to make care packages not just for AsanEagleScoutcandidate,Deignanneedednight there with her while relatives and neighborspatients, but also for their families. to plan, organize, and oversee a project that wouldstayed with us at home.ScoutmasterBrauchliisenthusiasticabout benefit a specific organization. He would fundraiseIt was a difficult time, but Deignan remembersDeignans choice. Garrett has selected a wonder-36/ matters magazine / school 2019"