Moorestown Sisters Honor Late Friend’s Memory
Skip to main content
- Cinnaminson, NJ
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Haddonfield-Haddon Township, NJ
- Collingswood, NJ
- Bensalem, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Lower Moreland, PA
- Lower Southampton, PA
- Abington, PA
- Levittown, PA
- New Jersey
- Top National News
- See All Communities
Community Corner
Paige Holland, a Moorestown High School student, was 17 when she passed away last year from complications due to epilepsy.
Rob Scott, Patch Staff
Paige Holland understood you didn’t need to be a politician, or a wealthy CEO, or a Nobel laureate, to change the world.
“Paige was devoted to making others feel happy, important and loved,” said her mother, Kara. “That was who she was … Even if you make just one person a little happier each day, that is a day well-lived.
“
Few knew this better than Alexandra and Kacie Liebman, close friends of Paige who said she was always there for them—to make them smile, or defend them against bullies, or make them her famous rice pudding.
Find out what’s happening in Moorestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Paige passed away a year ago last week at the age of 17 from complications due to epilepsy, which afflicted her most of her life. Alexandra and Kacie’s mother, Robin, said it was “one of the saddest days” of her daughters’ lives.
And yet, Paige left behind “so many beautiful gifts.”
Find out what’s happening in Moorestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“She treated every single day like it was a holiday,” said Alexandra, a senior at Moorestown High School, who had been best friends with Paige since 10th grade. “If I had a bad day, Paige always knew how to make me smile.”
Kacie, Alexandra’s younger sister, said Paige was “like our sister.”
“She always thought about others and never about herself,” said the 12-year-old.
It was Kacie, along with her sister, who initially conceived the idea of honoring Paige’s memory, and her dream of beating epilepsy, with a fundraiser.
The Liebman sisters, with the help of their mother and other supporters, organized the Paige’s Green Dream 5k/10k Walk for this Sunday at Moorestown High School. Robin said performing community service is one of the requirements for bat mitzvah, which Kacie recently celebrated.
“There were no other things that she could think to do other than honoring Paige’s dream (of conquering epilepsy),” said Robin.
Kacie hopes not only will the event raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation, but also can dispel some of the misconceptions and stigmas surrounding the affliction.
Kara Holland said she is “so grateful” to the Liebmans and the other supporters and organizers behind the walk.
“It really does help warm our broken hearts,” she said. “We are very grateful and honored.”
Registration starts at 9 a.m., followed by opening remarks from the family and the dedication of a bench bearing Paige’s name outside the high school.
The walk begins at 10 a.m.
You can register for the walk and/or make a donation on the Paige’s Green Dream website. Robin said they’ve raised more than $12,000 so far, between registered walkers and donations.
“We take these very tragic moments, and we can’t change these moments,” said Robin, “but we can make something so positive come out of them.”
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
The rules of replying:
Real Estate|
Restaurants & Bars|
Weather|
Paige’s Green Dream hosts its second 5K walk on Nov. 2
Paige Holland, a young Moorestown resident, was just 17 when she passed away two years ago due to complications of epilepsy. To honor their dear friend, Kacie and Alexandra Liebman, also of Moorestown, started Paige’s Green Dream to raise awareness of epilepsy and try to continue Paige’s wish to find a cure for the condition.
Because November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, Paige’s Green Dream will be hosting its second 5K walk on Nov. 2. The walk begins and ends at Moorestown High School and registration is at 9 a.m. with the walk kickoff at 10 a.m. The first 300 people who participate will receive a free t-shirt.
– Advertisement –
Paige’s Green Dream began when Kacie was preparing for her bat mitzvah and had to fulfill a mitzvah project. She could think of nothing more worthwhile than remembering her friend Paige and continue Paige’s dream to find a cure for epilepsy. Kacie and her sister Alexandra worked together to create the organization in honor of their friend. Paige loved the color green, the band Green Day and along with her dream of finding a cure, the name Paige’s Green Dream was created.
“We’re keeping her memory and dream alive by finding a cure for epilepsy, therefore she is always with us,” Kacie said.
Alexandra described Paige as a lovable person who always knew how to brighten your day.
She never let her epilepsy episodes ruin her day, and she always walked around the school building with her head held high and a smile on her face.
“She was always a fighter. She was always trying to find a cure and always saying when she grew up she wanted to work with kids with her condition,” Kacie said.
Last year was the first Paige’s Green Dream 5K Walk and more than 400 people supported the organization through walking, volunteering, sponsoring and donating. The proceeds of approximately $25,000 supported research efforts of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, the Paige Holland Memorial Scholarship and Camp Frog, a specialty camp of children afflicted with epilepsy. The Liebmans were overwhelmed by the support last year and would like just as much, if not more this year.
“I am hoping that we have a lot more people than last year and I am hoping a lot more people gain awareness of what epilepsy is. At the end of the day, I am hoping for a strong show of support by the community,” Kacie said.
“Just seeing everyone there coming to support the walk and coming together as a community is very inspirational for me and I’m really glad that I get to see and experience all of the people together.”
Represented at the walk will be the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey and other health professionals who will provide information prior to walk kick off. After that the walk begins.
“I love the actual part of the walk, when I get to walk around town. I can see the color green from miles away from the apparel the walkers are wearing. Every step I take makes me realize the process we had to do for the walk. It seems at first there are so many steps, but when you reach the end, you realize that you have made a difference,” Alexandra said.
There is no fee to sign up for the walk, but online registration is encouraged at paigesgreendream.org. Donations are not necessary, though any small amount is appreciated. The only thing that the girls ask are that people come out to the event to learn more about epilepsy, support those with the condition and wear green in honor of Paige.