Many kids save up their money to buy a new toy or a treat. But three-year-old Paula Anderson of Washburn recently gave all the money she had raised to help those battling cancer.  

Paula and her mom, Haley, did an Usborne Books fundraiser—they earned money from each box of greeting cards sold. Paula’s fundraiser totaled $626, all of which she donated to the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation. She says her grandma was her inspiration.

“I don’t want people to die from cancer,” says Paula.

Paula went to the Bismarck Cancer Center every day with her grandma, Nicki Daub, for almost two months when she was going through radiation treatment for lung cancer. Unfortunately, Nicki lost her battle with cancer, but the memories are still there for Paula. Her mom says even though Paula was very young during her grandmother’s cancer treatment, she knows that her daughter still remembers her experience at the Bismarck Cancer Center.

“She just said today when we drove down State Street, ‘Remember when we went to eat at the Woodhouse with Grandma Nicki, when we were here for her cancer?’”

Paula’s donation will help fund patient housing, gas cards, dietary counseling, massage therapy, spiritual therapy, survivorship counseling, and much more. When Paula isn’t fundraising for a purpose, she enjoys things that most three year olds do, including playing with her little sister, Sarah.

“I like riding bike, playing with my kitties, and playing with my ‘Mr. Bucket’ game,” Paula says.