When Sonya Kalany’s son Joseph came home from Johnson Elementary earlier this year and asked if she had a box he could use, it didn’t seem like that odd of a request. After all, 9-year-olds are often looking to let out their creative side.

 

Kalany was able to meet her son’s request and off to his room he went. As it turned out, young Joseph didn’t have some kind of unique game he wanted to play or a project he wanted to impress his friends with as it related to his box. Rather, his box was meant to help others.

 

And as it turns out, it did just that.

 

“(Joseph) duct taped some paper on the back of it and cut a hole in the front of it and taped a sign that he made that had the Pink Breast Cancer Awareness on it with the words ‘help’ on it,” Kalany said. “He stopped long enough for me to take a picture and took it and set out by our mailbox in hopes that our neighbors would see it and donate.”

 

Eventually, the neighbors did see it. The first day Joseph Kalany’s box to help those with breast cancer made $4; even if most of it was change.

 

“He was so happy that he wanted to send it to help with breast cancer that day,” Sonya said.

 

By the time it was done, that little box collected $33.07 over four days to help the battle against breast cancer. So what on earth would prompt a youngster who is in fourth grade to do such a good deed? His mother thinks she knows why.

 

“I think the fact that it was October ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ month is what made him focus on raising the money for breast cancer,” said Sonya.

 

That, of course, and how the disease has already affected this young man, has also likely played a part in his show of compassion. Joseph's great-grandmother, Paula Woodall of Clarksville, TN., was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2012 and has had a double mastectomy. Thankfully, she is now considered cancer free. However, it may be what Joseph experienced in May of 2012 when his great-grandfather, Wendell Woodall of Clarksville, TN passed away from cancer.

 

“Joseph along with many other family members and friends were there the last night of his life. At the young and tender age of 8 Joseph witnessed the terrible effects of cancer and how it can devastate a family,” Sonya said.

 

What Joseph saw spurred him to action. The money made it all the way to Morgantown and the Betty Puskar Breast Cancer Care Center. Joseph presented the funds to Ginger Layne, MD, the medical director of the Breast Care Center. According to a report written by Sherry Stoneking on the Center’s Web site,  that a “patient visiting the Breast Care Center the day that Kalany presented his donation to Dr. Layne was so impressed by his interest in breast cancer awareness, that she asked if she could contribute to his cause. He smiled and said ‘yes.’”

 

Needless to say, Sonya and Joseph’s father Michael are extremely proud of him.

 

“I don't think I can put into words how proud this made me; I don't know if there is a word to explain the way this made my husband and me feel.  It's one of those moments when you realize although you are not sure what it is that you are doing you are doing something right as a parent and it makes your heart swell with tremendous joy and pride,” she said. “I also want to say the community of Bridgeport is doing something right as well; we have only been members of this community since August of 2012 and since being here people have been nothing but kind to us and it has helped Joseph and my daughter Rachel settle in and instantly feel that Bridgeport is home.” 

 

One of the Kalany’s neighbors, Jolyn Wilt, not only contributed, but was touched by this young man in her neighborhood.

 

“Joe is so sweet and such a caring and good mannered boy,” said Wilt.

 

As for Joseph, his mother said he’s not quite sure what all of the fuss is about.

 

“He is proud of himself for what he has done, but he doesn't understand why everyone is making such a big deal of it,” his mother said.

 

As it turns out, doing something selfless is always a big deal. And Joseph Kalany did just that.

 

Editor's Note: Photo of Joseph Kalany with Ginger Layne, MD, the medical director of the Breast Care Center, courtesy of Sherry Stoneking with the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown.