How did two sisters from Moorestown honor their late friend Paige Holland. What is the purpose of Paige’s Green Dream Walk. How much money has been raised for the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey. When and where will the event take place.
The Legacy of Paige Holland: A Life Devoted to Kindness
Paige Holland, a 17-year-old Moorestown High School student, left an indelible mark on her community before passing away due to epilepsy complications in October 2012. Her mother, Kara Holland, described Paige’s devotion to making others feel “happy, important and loved.” This commitment to kindness resonated deeply with those who knew her, especially her close friends Alexandra and Kacie Liebman.
Alexandra, a senior at Moorestown High School, fondly remembers Paige’s ability to brighten even the darkest days. “She treated every single day like it was a holiday,” Alexandra recalled. “If I had a bad day, Paige always knew how to make me smile.” Kacie, Alexandra’s 12-year-old sister, echoed these sentiments, describing Paige as “like our sister” who “always thought about others and never about herself.”
Paige’s Green Dream Walk: A Tribute and a Mission
Inspired by Paige’s memory and her dream of overcoming epilepsy, the Liebman sisters conceived the idea of a fundraiser to honor their friend. With support from their mother, Robin, and other community members, they organized Paige’s Green Dream 5k/10k Walk, scheduled for November 3, 2013, at Moorestown High School.
The event aims to achieve multiple goals:
- Raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey
- Increase awareness about epilepsy
- Challenge misconceptions and stigmas surrounding the condition
- Celebrate Paige’s life and her impact on the community
Event Details and Community Response
The walk is set to begin at 10 a.m., with registration opening at 9 a.m. Before the walk, there will be opening remarks from Paige’s family and the dedication of a bench bearing her name outside the high school. The event has already garnered significant support, with Robin Liebman reporting that over $12,000 has been raised through registrations and donations.
Kara Holland expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “It really does help warm our broken hearts. We are very grateful and honored.” The community’s response underscores the impact Paige had on those around her and the desire to continue her legacy of kindness and advocacy.
Epilepsy Awareness: Breaking Down Barriers
One of the primary goals of Paige’s Green Dream Walk is to shed light on epilepsy, a neurological disorder that affects millions worldwide. By organizing this event during Epilepsy Awareness Month in November, the organizers hope to educate the public and dispel common myths about the condition.
Why is raising awareness about epilepsy crucial? Epilepsy remains a misunderstood condition, often surrounded by stigma and misconceptions. By promoting education and open dialogue, events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk can help create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those living with epilepsy.
Key Facts About Epilepsy
- Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide
- It is characterized by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement
- With proper treatment, many people with epilepsy can lead full and active lives
- Stigma and discrimination often pose bigger challenges than the seizures themselves
The Power of Community Service and Personal Growth
The inception of Paige’s Green Dream Walk also highlights the importance of community service and personal growth, especially for young people. For Kacie Liebman, organizing this event served as her bat mitzvah project, a Jewish coming-of-age ritual that often involves performing acts of community service.
Robin Liebman noted that when considering options for her bat mitzvah project, Kacie was drawn to honoring Paige’s memory and supporting the cause of epilepsy awareness. This decision demonstrates how personal experiences and connections can inspire meaningful community engagement.
Benefits of Youth Involvement in Community Service
- Develops empathy and social awareness
- Builds leadership and organizational skills
- Fosters a sense of community responsibility
- Provides opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection
- Creates lasting impact on both the individual and the community
Turning Tragedy into Positive Action
The story of Paige’s Green Dream Walk exemplifies how communities can come together to create something positive in the face of loss. Robin Liebman captured this sentiment, saying, “We take these very tragic moments, and we can’t change these moments, but we can make something so positive come out of them.”
How can individuals and communities transform grief into constructive action? Here are some strategies:
- Identify causes or issues that were important to the loved one
- Collaborate with friends, family, and community members
- Set achievable goals that honor the person’s memory
- Focus on creating lasting impact through education and awareness
- Embrace the healing power of collective action and shared purpose
The Ripple Effect of Kindness: Paige’s Enduring Legacy
Paige Holland’s philosophy that making even one person happier each day constitutes a day well-lived continues to inspire those who knew her. This idea, simple yet profound, serves as a reminder of the power of small acts of kindness and their potential to create significant change.
How can individuals incorporate this philosophy into their daily lives? Consider these suggestions:
- Practice random acts of kindness
- Actively listen and offer support to friends and family
- Volunteer for local organizations or causes
- Spread positivity through social media and personal interactions
- Reflect on the impact of your actions and strive for continuous improvement
Supporting the Cause: How to Get Involved
For those inspired by Paige’s story and the efforts of the Liebman sisters, there are several ways to support Paige’s Green Dream Walk and the broader cause of epilepsy awareness:
- Register for the walk through the official Paige’s Green Dream website
- Make a donation to support the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey
- Spread awareness about the event and epilepsy through social media and personal networks
- Volunteer to help organize or run the event
- Educate yourself about epilepsy and share accurate information with others
By participating in events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk, individuals can contribute to a larger movement of understanding, support, and hope for those affected by epilepsy.
The Future of Epilepsy Research and Support
While Paige’s Green Dream Walk focuses on honoring a friend’s memory and raising awareness, it also contributes to the broader landscape of epilepsy research and support. Fundraising efforts like this play a crucial role in advancing scientific understanding and improving the lives of those with epilepsy.
What are some key areas of focus in epilepsy research and support? Experts are currently exploring:
- New treatments and therapies to better control seizures
- Improved diagnostic tools for early detection and intervention
- Psychosocial support systems for individuals and families affected by epilepsy
- Public education initiatives to reduce stigma and promote inclusion
- Technological innovations to enhance quality of life for those with epilepsy
By supporting events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk, communities contribute to these important advancements and help shape a more inclusive future for individuals living with epilepsy.
The Impact of Community-Led Initiatives
Grassroots efforts like Paige’s Green Dream Walk demonstrate the significant impact that community-led initiatives can have on raising awareness and funds for important causes. These events not only contribute financially but also create a ripple effect of education and empathy throughout the community.
How do community-led initiatives benefit both the cause and the community itself?
- They foster a sense of shared purpose and unity
- They provide opportunities for local engagement and volunteerism
- They raise awareness about important issues at a grassroots level
- They empower individuals to make a difference in their community
- They create lasting partnerships between organizations and community members
As Paige’s Green Dream Walk continues to grow and evolve, it serves as an inspiring example of how individual actions, driven by compassion and determination, can create meaningful change and honor the legacy of a loved one.
The story of Paige Holland and the Liebman sisters’ efforts to honor her memory through Paige’s Green Dream Walk is a testament to the power of friendship, community, and the enduring impact of kindness. As the event continues to raise awareness and funds for epilepsy research, it also serves as a reminder of the positive change that can emerge from tragedy when individuals come together with a shared purpose.
Through their dedication to this cause, Alexandra and Kacie Liebman have not only created a fitting tribute to their friend but have also inspired others to take action and make a difference in their communities. As the walk grows and evolves, it will continue to spread Paige’s message of kindness and hope, touching lives far beyond the boundaries of Moorestown.
Ultimately, Paige’s Green Dream Walk stands as a powerful example of how young people can effect change, how communities can rally around important causes, and how the memory of a loved one can inspire positive action that resonates for years to come. It is a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is always an opportunity to create something beautiful and meaningful that can help others and honor those we have lost.
Moorestown Sisters Honor Late Friend’s Memory
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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.”
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Paige’s Green Dream Walk to raise money and awareness on Nov. 3
Setting out to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, two local teens also hope to raise awareness and honor their friend with Paige’s Green Dream Walk.
Paige’s Green Dream Walk will take place on Nov. 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at Moorestown High School.
The walk will start and end at the high school, with vendors such as Cyberonics and the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey promoting epilepsy awareness and education.
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Choosing November because it’s Epilepsy Awareness Month, Paige’s Green Dream Walk will be held in memory of Paige Holland. Holland was a resident of Moorestown who passed away last October due to complications of epilepsy.
Holland was 17 years old at the time of her passing and maintained a close friendship with Robin Liebman’s daughter Alexandra Liebman, who is also 17 years old.
“They were really inseparable,” said Robin Liebman.
Tagging along with Alexandra Liebman was her younger sister, 12-year-old Kacie Liebman, who also befriended Holland through her older sister.
Following Holland’s untimely passing, Kacie Liebman asked her parents if she could start a walk to honor Holland’s memory. Completing her Mitzvoh, a selfless good deed, for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah, Robin Liebman said her daughter had considered doing another project, but immediately knew Paige’s Green Dream Walk was what she wanted to do.
Alexandra Liebman quickly began to help her sister, knowing that Holland had always talked of finding a cure for epilepsy.
“With Alex, it was only natural for her to help since she was so close with Paige,” Robin Liebman said.
Robin Liebman also said that she can recall many times when Holland had spoken of finding a cure for epilepsy and said that Paige “wanted to be a champion for those with epilepsy.”
“My sister and I feel so great,” Alexandra Liebman said. “ I feel like we’re living out her dream to the fullest.”
The Liebmans met with the Moorestown Police Department and Theresa Miller to secure their blessing.
In addition, a letter was also sent to the Moorestown Public School District Board of Education, since the walk was planned to begin and end at Moorestown High School.
After securing the blessing of both the schools and township officials, Robin Liebman said that she then reached out to the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, the organization to which all proceeds from the walk will be donated.
Finally securing the permissions they needed, they then went to the Holland family.
“They were only happy to be part of the process,” Robin Liebman said.
With Holland’s parents and grandmother serving as active members on the official Paige’s Green Dream Committee, it was then time for the committee to find sponsors.
Robin Liebman explained that after sending letters, Paige’s Green Dream Walk received a number of sponsors, including Wegmans, which will be donating water bottles and bananas. In addition, Capital Health will also be supplying t-shirts for the event, which will be given to the first 300 registrants who donate more than $10 to the Paige’s Green Dream.
“The companies in the area have been very generous,” Robin Liebman said.
The walk will begin with an introduction, which will include a speech from both Alexandra Liebman and Kacie Liebman. Following the introduction will be a dedication ceremony for a bench, which will be permanently affixed to the front of Moorestown High School.
The walk will officially kick off with the playing of a Green Day song “Time of Your Life,” a song from Holland’s favorite band.
Robin Liebman said that the response from the community has been “heartfelt” with already 130 people registered for the walk. She said that by the day of the walk, she expects the total number of walkers to be approximately 300.
“I could think of nothing more meaningful to us,” Kacie Liebman said.
Alexandra Liebman also added that her hope for Paige’s Green Dream Walk is to not only raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, but also give people a new perspective for those who are diagnosed with epilepsy.
Paige Holland’s mother, Kara Holland also released the following statement in regard to the walk:
“We are deeply grateful for the efforts of Paige’s friends, classmates, their families and the entire community in helping bring Paige’s Green Dream to life. Not everyone is born to become a noble laureate, but each one of us can make a difference in the world. Even if you make just one person a little happier each day, which is a day well lived. Paige understood that.
