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By: Ora Nelson

Christopher’s Jewelry is hosting a benefit raffle for the Megan Kelley Smiles Foundation until July 31.

The benefit will feature 11 handmade bracelets to be raffled off from a U.S. based jewelry company, Renaldo Designer Jewelry.

“They’re pretty much our best selling line,” said Hughes. “They each have a name and special meaning.”

The items that will be raffled are 10 Renaldo “Be Kind” bracelets with tickets $5 apiece and one Renaldo “Angelina bracelet” at $20 a ticket.

When the bracelet is purchased in the store, Christopher’s Jewelry will donate $5 to the Foundation.

Tickets can be bought at Christopher’s Jewelry, the Teal Gypsy Boutique and Utopia Salon and Boutique.

Lawrence first thought of the idea of a benefit once she saw the name of the specific bracelet, “Be Kind,” when it came to the store.

“It struck a note with her,” said Hughes.

“Donna Lawrence and Cherish Hughes came to me and asked if they could do something for a fundraiser,” said Donna Kelly, founder of the Megan Kelley Smiles Foundation. “It was completely their idea.”

“When the 5K got canceled, it turned out to be a perfect opportunity to be a fundraiser for her [Megan],” said Lawrence.

“We had wanted Renaldo to team up in some way with the Megan Smiles, so we reached out and contacted them [Renaldo],” said Hughes.

Christopher’s Jewelry first contacted one of Megan’s friends, Kennedy Thompson, to write an essay to send to Renaldo Designer Jewelry.

“Renaldo’s bracelets are all about the story,” said Lawrence. “They all have a special meaning and are all about the story. And since the story meant so much to us [at Christopher’s] personally, we wanted them [at Renaldo’s] to know about it.”

The jewelry company reached out to Christopher’s to team up with the Megan Kelly Smiles Foundation.

“Whenever Renaldo [Designer Jewelry] released the “Be Kind” bracelet, we immediately thought about Megan because that’s what she always said,” said Lawrence.

Megan’s motto was, “Be Kind to everyone, you never know what they are going through.”

“This was Megan’s vision—helping others,” said Kelly. “And that day in May isn’t just about raising only, it’s about remembering Megan and raising awareness about childhood cancers. To me, it [the benefit] was special because somebody outside of the foundation, in the community, decided, ‘Hey, we want to remember Megan and also help make a donation to the foundation.’”

“I’m hoping by reaching out [in the community] and getting it out there a little more, [more people will participate],” said Hughes. “They just do so much good at Megan Smiles. It’s such an important thing, and they do so much for our community.”

Further information about the foundation and to donate to the Megan Kelly Smiles Foundation can be made at www.mksmiles.org.