How can a community come together to honor a friend’s memory. What is the significance of Paige’s Green Dream Walk. How does this event raise awareness for epilepsy. What impact did Paige Holland have on her friends and community.
The Inspiration Behind Paige’s Green Dream Walk
In the heart of Moorestown, a touching story of friendship, loss, and community spirit unfolds. Paige Holland, a vibrant 17-year-old Moorestown High School student, passed away in October 2012 due to complications from epilepsy. Her untimely death left a profound impact on her friends and family, inspiring them to create a lasting tribute that would honor her memory and continue her fight against epilepsy.
Alexandra and Kacie Liebman, close friends of Paige, conceived the idea of a fundraising walk to commemorate their friend and raise awareness about epilepsy. This initiative, known as Paige’s Green Dream Walk, is set to take place on November 3, 2013, at Moorestown High School.
Who was Paige Holland?
Paige Holland was more than just a high school student; she was a beacon of positivity and kindness in her community. Her mother, Kara Holland, describes her daughter’s philosophy: “Even if you make just one person a little happier each day, that is a day well-lived.” This sentiment encapsulates Paige’s approach to life and her impact on those around her.
- Paige was known for her devotion to making others feel happy, important, and loved
- She treated every day like a holiday, always finding ways to make her friends smile
- Despite battling epilepsy for most of her life, Paige remained focused on others’ happiness
The Liebman Sisters: Catalysts for Change
Alexandra and Kacie Liebman, deeply affected by the loss of their friend, decided to channel their grief into positive action. Alexandra, a senior at Moorestown High School, had been best friends with Paige since 10th grade. Kacie, Alexandra’s 12-year-old sister, viewed Paige as a sister figure.
The idea for the fundraiser originated with Kacie, who was preparing for her bat mitzvah. In Jewish tradition, performing community service is a requirement for this coming-of-age ceremony. For Kacie, there was no question about what her project would be – honoring Paige’s dream of conquering epilepsy.
How did the Liebman sisters organize the event?
With the support of their mother, Robin Liebman, and other community members, the sisters set about organizing Paige’s Green Dream 5k/10k Walk. Their efforts have already yielded impressive results, with over $12,000 raised through registered walkers and donations before the event has even taken place.
The Event: Paige’s Green Dream Walk
Scheduled for November 3, 2013, Paige’s Green Dream Walk is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a community gathering to celebrate Paige’s life and continue her fight against epilepsy. The event will take place at Moorestown High School, a fitting location given Paige’s connection to the school.
- Registration begins at 9 a.m.
- Opening remarks from Paige’s family
- Dedication of a bench bearing Paige’s name outside the high school
- The walk commences at 10 a.m.
What makes this event unique?
Paige’s Green Dream Walk isn’t just about raising funds; it’s about education and awareness. Vendors such as Cyberonics and the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey will be present, promoting epilepsy awareness and education. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the event has a lasting impact beyond the funds raised.
The Significance of November for Epilepsy Awareness
The timing of Paige’s Green Dream Walk is no coincidence. November is recognized as Epilepsy Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to host an event that aims to educate the public about this neurological disorder.
Why is raising awareness about epilepsy important?
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, yet it remains misunderstood by many. Events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk play a crucial role in:
- Dispelling misconceptions about epilepsy
- Reducing stigma associated with the condition
- Educating the public about epilepsy symptoms and first aid
- Promoting research and improved treatments
The Impact of Community Support
The overwhelming response to Paige’s Green Dream Walk demonstrates the power of community in times of loss. Kara Holland, Paige’s mother, expressed her gratitude for the support, saying, “It really does help warm our broken hearts. We are very grateful and honored.”
This outpouring of support not only honors Paige’s memory but also provides comfort to her family and friends. It shows how a community can come together to transform tragedy into a force for positive change.
How can community support make a difference?
Community support in events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk can have far-reaching effects:
- Provides emotional support to those grieving
- Raises significant funds for important causes
- Increases awareness about important issues
- Strengthens community bonds
- Inspires others to take action for causes they care about
The Legacy of Paige Holland
While Paige’s life was tragically cut short, her impact continues to resonate through the actions of those who knew and loved her. The Paige’s Green Dream Walk serves as a living testament to her spirit and her dream of conquering epilepsy.
How did Paige’s approach to life inspire others?
Paige’s philosophy of making others happy and treating every day as special has left a lasting impression on her friends and community. Her approach to life, despite her health challenges, serves as an inspiration for others to:
- Find joy in everyday moments
- Prioritize kindness and compassion
- Face challenges with a positive attitude
- Make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how small
The Future of Paige’s Green Dream Walk
While the inaugural Paige’s Green Dream Walk is set for November 3, 2013, the impact of this event is likely to extend far beyond a single day. The organizers hope that this will become an annual event, continuing to raise awareness and funds for epilepsy research and support.
What are the long-term goals of this initiative?
The organizers of Paige’s Green Dream Walk have several long-term objectives:
- Establish an annual event to honor Paige’s memory
- Continue to raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation
- Increase public understanding of epilepsy
- Inspire other communities to create similar awareness events
- Support research into improved treatments and potential cures for epilepsy
As Robin Liebman poignantly stated, “We take these very tragic moments, and we can’t change these moments, but we can make something so positive come out of them.” This sentiment captures the essence of Paige’s Green Dream Walk – transforming loss into hope, and memory into action.
How to Get Involved in Paige’s Green Dream Walk
For those inspired by Paige’s story and the efforts of her friends and family, there are several ways to get involved in Paige’s Green Dream Walk:
- Register for the walk: Participants can sign up to walk in the 5k or 10k event
- Make a donation: Even if unable to attend, individuals can contribute to the cause
- Spread awareness: Share information about the event and epilepsy awareness on social media
- Volunteer: Help with event organization or on the day of the walk
- Educate yourself: Learn more about epilepsy and how to support those affected by it
Registration and donations can be made through the Paige’s Green Dream website. Every contribution, whether it’s time, money, or simply spreading the word, helps to further the cause of epilepsy awareness and honors Paige’s memory.
Why is participation in events like this important?
Participating in events like Paige’s Green Dream Walk is crucial for several reasons:
- It provides tangible support for important causes
- It helps create a sense of community and shared purpose
- It raises awareness about important health issues
- It can provide comfort and support to those affected by loss
- It inspires others to take action and make a difference
By coming together for Paige’s Green Dream Walk, participants not only honor the memory of a remarkable young woman but also contribute to the ongoing fight against epilepsy. Each step taken, each dollar raised, and each conversation started about epilepsy awareness brings us closer to a world where this condition no longer claims young lives like Paige’s.
As the Moorestown community prepares for this inaugural event, it stands as a shining example of how tragedy can be transformed into a catalyst for positive change. Paige Holland’s legacy lives on through the efforts of her friends, family, and community, proving that one person’s kindness and positivity can indeed change the world, even after they’re gone.
The story of Paige’s Green Dream Walk serves as a reminder of the power of community, the importance of awareness, and the enduring impact of a life well-lived, no matter how brief. As participants lace up their shoes and set out on the walk on November 3, they’ll be doing more than raising funds – they’ll be carrying forward Paige’s dream of a world free from the challenges of epilepsy, one step at a time.
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 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.
– Advertisement –
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.
